Spike


Gil | EuroSpike


Overview


Spike

Spike launcher with clip-on thermal sight on display in the field.
Source: Unknown author - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Israel
Type
Man portable anti-tank missile
Entered service
1997
Status
In service
Development
1990's
Developer
Israel - Rafael
Production
Mid 1990's - present
Producer
Israel - Rafael
Germany - EuroSpike GmbH
Unit cost
$ 225 million for 300 launchers and 2.400 Spike-MR missiles in 2001.
Number produced
Over 20.000 MR and LR missiles
Designations
Gil (Spike-MR in Israeli & Dutch service)
Gomet (Spike-LR in Israeli service)
NT-G / NT-Gil
Notable users
Israel
Netherlands
Germany

Description


Introduction

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.

Design

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.

Guidance

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.

Firepower

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.

Mobility

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.

Users

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.

Variants


Spike-LR

Spike-LR in Latvian service on public display in 2015, showing the image of the thermal sight.
Source: Karlis Dambrans - © CC BY 2.0

Spike-MR
The Spike-MR was the first operational dedicated anti-tank missile of the Spike family. MR stands for Medium Range and can reach up to 2.5 km. This variant only supports the fire and forget lock on before launch capability. The MR is known as Gil in Israeli service.
Spike-LR
The Spike-LR is a modified version of the Spike-MR and comes in a similar sized launch container. LR stands for Long Range, which is achieved by adding a two way datalink. This is in addition to the lock on before launch method of the MR. The Spike-LR is known in Israeli service as the Gomed.

Details


Facts Spike-MR Spike-LR
General
Origin
Israel
Type
Anti-tank guided missile
Dimensions
Length
1.20 m
Diameter
130 mm
Wingspan
0.3 m
Weight
13.5 kg in flight
Guidance
Guidance mode
Imaging infrared and CCD optical guidance
Lock on before launch
Warhead
Type
Tandem HEAT
Fuse
Impact
Penetration
About 700 mm RHA behind ERA
Engagement envelope
Propulsion
Solid propellant flight motor
Solid propellant launch booster
Range
2.5 km maximum
0.2 km minimum
Manpack launher
Weight
12 kg complete without missile
5 kg command launch unit with day sight
3 kg tripod
4 kg detachable thermal sight with 1 kg battery
Day sight
10x magnification
5° field of view
Reusable
Yes, about 15 second reload

Media


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