Israeli company Rafael presented its new L-SPIKE loitering munition for the first time to the countries that use its SPIKE missiles, at a three-day gathering in Larnaca. Neofytos Pachoulides, the deputy chief of Cyprus’s National Guard, praised the missiles’ accuracy and reliability.
Around 200 representatives from 23 countries that have bought the missiles took part to exchange operational experience, according to Israeli media reports. Discussions focused on the missiles’ use in operations in Lebanon and Iran, maintenance and user training, and the future capabilities of the SPIKE family.
“For Cyprus, SPIKE missiles offer a significant contribution to our overall deterrence capabilities,” Pachoulides said. He said the system combined precision, range, flexibility and survivability, and had shown a high level of accuracy and reliability, with impressive results under test conditions.
He added that the meeting allowed the National Guard to draw on the experience of other armed forces and apply lessons suited to its tactical needs. It also created a direct feedback mechanism, he said, through which operational experience helps improve training, logistical support and the development of future capabilities.
Four countries joined the SPIKE user community in the past year, bringing it to 48, including Cyprus, according to the reports.
Nine national teams were tested on their knowledge and handling skills in an international competition held over the three days, which ended with live firing of SPIKE SR missiles.
Alongside the L-SPIKE, new ways of using the rest of the SPIKE family were presented, including the long-range version for land, air and naval platforms.
L-SPIKE capabilities
The L-SPIKE is a guided missile that can loiter over an area of interest before striking a target, combining the rapid response of a missile with the ability to stay airborne to locate and track targets. It comes in two versions, the L-SPIKE 4X and the L-SPIKE 1X.
According to Rafael’s published specifications, it has a range of five to 40 kilometres depending on the version, which it can cover in about five minutes. It can loiter for up to 30 minutes while waiting for the right moment to engage.
A day and night electro-optical system lets it detect, identify and track targets in real time, and it can strike moving targets as well as fleeting targets that require an immediate response.
Depending on the mission, it carries either a multi-purpose warhead or a tandem HEAT warhead, the latter designed to defeat armour. Rafael says its high speed, low signature and high manoeuvrability improve its survivability.
