Rafael and Oshkosh have reported the completion of a demonstration and live firing of Rafael’s SPIKE Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) missile from an Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).
The demonstration, hosted by the Estonian Navy, took place in Saaremaa Island, Estonia, in the presence of representatives from 14 countries, including SPIKE-user NATO countries and senior members of Estonia’s defence ministry and members of the Estonian Armed Forces.
The demo included a live firing of two SPIKE NLOS missiles from a launcher mounted on the Oshkosh JLTV. The missiles were fired towards two different non-line-of-sight sea targets of different sizes and characteristics. Both targets were destroyed.
Rafael points out that SPIKE NLOS enables positive visual target identification and precision strike at extended ranges and beyond-line-of-sight against marine targets (landing craft, corvettes, commando RIBs etc.), and on land – tanks and armoured vehicles either at amphibious state or on shore, infantry, forward command posts and more. It has a bi-directional datalink, enabling full control of the missile from launch up to target hit with pinpoint precision that is not affected by range. Unlike laser-guided or active radar munitions, the SPIKE NLOS electro-optical guidance is completely passive and is capable of operation in a GPS-denied environments.
Juergen Hensel
