The standard armor piercing warhead has inherent anti-structure capabilities. The missile can be set to use a high angle of attack, to further improve anti-tank capability. The missiles’ advanced Tandem HEAT warhead has armor penetration capabilities of all known MBT’s. Unlike laser designation, SPIKE ER has no laser emission that would warn the target of the imminent attack. The missile utilizes an embedded inertial measurement unit (IMU) to navigate unguided through a mid-course flight, to reach a designated location where it establishes contact with the operator, to acquire the target. This capability is enabled also in the LR2 version. Subscribe for the full text.Ī unique feature of the new SPIKE ER2 seeker is the capability to quickly swap between IR and day sensors in flight, a technique used to detect targets under camouflage. This is a 440 word excerpt of the 784 words story. The target tracker is also multispectral, performing continuous sensory data fusion – an important feature that improves the missile’s performance even in adverse visibility conditions and against extensive obscurants. The Spike ER2 seeker has also been improved with the introduction of an advanced multi-sensor imager comprising a high-resolution IR and day sensors, that enable target acquisition at extended range. The new missile retains the Spike’s size, weight (<35 kg), and lethality. ![]() To operate at such distances the system now provides Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) engagement capabilities such as launch to a specific grid coordinate, where the operator can designate the target. For Spike ER2 missiles fired from helicopters, Rafael now offers an option to replace the optical fiber data link with an RF datalink (similar to the Spike LR2), thus extending the range to 16 km., matching the missile’s energetic potential. First and foremost, for surface launch applications, the range is extended from eight to ten kilometers. Rafael has already established local production and support for the Spike family of missiles in Poland and Germany in support of the current missile acquisitions in those countries.Īs a ‘5th Generation’ missile, Spike ER2 features a number of new capabilities. Both France and Germany consider collaborating in the upgrading of their Tiger helicopters, although the two variants do not share the same weapons and mission systems. Currently deployed with MBDA’s PARS 3 LR missiles. ![]() ![]() ![]() Germany is also a potential customer for the missile, with a possible upgrading of the Tiger UHT. The Spike missile is already operational on a Mi-24 platform of another country. Providing the Mi-24 with Spike ER2 would enable this gunship to destroy targets from a safe distance, relying on its own target acquisition equipment or on a third party (such as UAV). Currently, those Mi-24 Hinds do not use any anti-tank guided missiles, as the helicopters’ legacy weapons that were produced in Russia are too short range and put the helicopter in great danger from enemy fire. Launching the new weapon at the MSPO event in Poland, Rafael aims at a Polish plan to replace the Russian origin weaponry on their Mi24 and Sokol helicopters. The enhanced missile is designed to equip combat vehicles, boats, and combat helicopters currently operating the Spike-ER variant. With a new multi-sensor seeker and datalink, the new ER2 variant enhances the range, agility, and target acquisition capabilities of the Spike-ER, enabling vehicles, boats and, particularly helicopters, to engage targets from longer stand-off ranges utilizing third-party targeting techniques (such as UAVs) previously unavailable for such tactical weapons.
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