Spike launcher with clip-on thermal sight on display in the field.
Source: Unknown author -
© Copyright lies with original owner
The Spike is a modern era anti-tank guided missile of Israeli origin. It was developed to provide the IDF with a man portable fire and forget missile system. This uses optical technology from the older Spike-NLOS missile, but is of a different design and has a very different battlefield role. Upon introduction the Spike was known as the Gil, with the Spike name introduced in the early 2000's for export sales.
The Spike missile has a large optical seeker in the nose. This is used to guide the missile towards the target without manual input. The missile has a tandem warhead and solid fuel rocket motor. Four central fins stabilize the missile in flight and four smaller ones near the nozzle are used for steering. The missile comes in a disposable transport tube that doubles as a launch tube. The manpack launcher consists of a reusable sight unit with bipod and clip-op thermal sight.
The Spike-MR is an optically guided missile operating in a fire and forget mode. Allowing the operator to immediately vacate the area after launch. In daytime a CCD 10x optical sight is used. At night a clip-on thermal sight is used. The longer range Spike-LR adds a two day datalink via optical fiber. The datalink sends a video image to the operator while the missile is in flight, allowing to lock on after launch or to manually guide the missile towards the target.
The Spike has a tandem HEAT warhead, allowing it to successfully engage tanks with explosive reactive armor. Armor penetration is reportedly 700 mm RHA behind ERA. At longer range the Spike uses as lofted trajectory, engaging targets from an upward trajectory, practically reducing the target's effective armor rating. Maximum range for Spike-MR and Spike-LR is 2.5 km with lock on before launch. The Spike-LR can be used to engage targets out to 4 km using the lock on after launch mode.
The manpack tripod launcher weights about 13 kg with its thermal sight. Missiles in their launch tube weigh about 14 kg each. This makes the Spike a man portable system, although it is best support by vehicles over longer distances. Aside from the manpack launcher there are several types of vehicle mounted launchers. The Spike-LR can even be fired from helicopters.
The Spike-MR, known as Gil in Israel, was adopted in small numbers in 1998, being declared standard issue in the year 2000. The Netherlands was one of the first foreign customers, placing orders in 2001. Various others nations followed, with nearly 30 opting for the MR/LR models of the Spike family of missiles.
Spike-LR in Latvian service on public display in 2015, showing the image of the thermal sight.
Source: Karlis Dambrans -
© CC BY 2.0
The American Javelin anti-tank guided missile uses a similar form of optical tracking making it a fire and forget weapon.
Several nations replaced the American Dragon with the Israeli Spike system. The Spike has a more capable warhead, longer range and fire and forget operating mode.
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