Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Adapts Its SPIKE Precision Missile for Naval Warfare

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has unveiled the adaptation of its family of Spike precision missiles for deployment on naval ships. The Naval Spike’s family have sophisticated electro-optic CCD or IIR sensors for day/night all-weather operation, as well as a tandem warhead.

Their lofted trajectories enable the warhead to strike the target at its most vulnerable location with pinpoint precision. All of the Naval Spike Family members have a low life-cycle cost, due to high reliability and operational, logistic support and production commonality between members. The system can be integrated with the ship’s existing assets to address targets that have been acquired by other sensors.

Spike is an Israeli fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile and anti-personnel missile with a tandem-charge high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead. It was developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is available in man-portable, vehicle-launched, and helicopter-launched variants. Spike ER (Extended Range) has a minimum range of 400 m and a maximum range of 8,000 m (5.0 mi). Spike NLOS (Non Line Of Sight) is an ultra long-range version of the weapon, with a claimed maximum range of 50 km when launched from a helicopter and up to 32 km from land and naval platforms. It is a significantly larger missile than other Spike variants, with an overall weight of around 70 kg (150 lb).

Naval Spike ER is a member of Rafael’s Naval Spike family which comprises a lightweight, compact and stabilised turret with four missiles on the mount, together with a fire control system for effective ranges of up to 8 km. The system enables very fast sensor-to-shooter loop closure in day/night defensive and offensive scenarios, thereby ensuring mission success with surgical precision. Furthermore, the missile mount is compatible with a variety of platforms, ranging from Rigid Hull Inflated Boats (RHIBs) to medium-size and larger vessels. Rafael says that the Naval SPIKE ER missile can be provided with either High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) or Penetration Blast Fragmentation (PBF) warheads.

Naval Spike NLOS is another member of Rafael’s SPIKE family which comprises electro-optically guided multipurpose missile for ranges of up to 32 km with pinpoint accuracy and midcourse navigation. Equipped with a variety of warheads, a wireless data link to the missile, unique advantages of hitting non-line of sight (NLOS) targets and the ability to switch between targets and abort missions. Spike NLOS can be operated in both offensive and defensive scenarios. In addition to attacking hidden targets, Spike NLOS can provide real-time tactical intelligence and damage assessment. Naval Spike NLOS is designed to be integrated into the ship’s Command and Control systems and can receive target location from an embedded TAS system, external sensors, C4I center or UAVs.