Rafael to Unveil Spike-ER II Fifth-gen Missile

Israeli firm Rafael will unveil a fifth-generation version of its Spike anti-tank missile, the Spike-ER II at the MSPO international defense exhibition in Kielce, Poland later this week.

A company announcement said that the Spike-ER II is a tactical electro-optical precision multi-purpose missile that can be launched from all the existing Spike missile launchers. A communications channel based on wireless radio makes it possible to optimize the missile's energy capabilities while extending its flight range.

The new missile is equipped with a double homing head containing a thermal sensor that facilitates location of targets at long ranges. A special target tracker has been installed on the missile that makes it possible to fuse information in real time and track targets on a smoke-filled battlefield.

The new capabilities enable the missile to detect and destroy concealed targets.

Rafael says that it has sold 30,000 Spikes of various types to date. The Australian government last week announced that it had decided to procure Rafael's Spike-LR II missiles, which would be installed on the new Boxer vehicles used by the Australian army.