Varley Rafael Australia (VRA) is expected to deliver the first Spike missile early next year, under a contract worth USD 50 million, and is developing options for domestic manufacturing.
Varley Rafael Australia is a joint venture between The Varley Group and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, combining Australia’s oldest defence enterprise with Rafael, a world leader in defence technology.
The Spike family of missiles includes the following variants: SR with a range of 2km, LR2 with a range of 5.5km, ER2 with a range of 10km, and the NLOS with a range of 30km.
Spike SR benefits include a light weight of only 10kg, operational simplicity, and an enhanced range of 2000 meters. Spike SR’s ease-of-use allows the lower echelon infantry to qualify rapidly and sustain a high level of operation with almost no continuous training.
These capabilities enhance infantry crew survivability when facing today’s modern tank threat, which includes better armor, greater standoff ranges, and advanced optics, placing ATGM units at risk. With its very low signature and single-soldier operation, Spike SR enables forces to shoot-and-scoot without exposing their location. This is a crucial capability for both high-intensity conflict, when facing an armored invasion, as well as in hybrid warfare, when proxy armored forces operate to hold ground.
Packed in a 98 cm long canister, Spike SR is highly portable, allowing infantry to easily and rapidly deploy with the weapon in any ground infantry maneuver.
Latvia also selected the Spike missiles for its armed forces. The deal includes the LR, LR2, ER, and SR variants.
Spike LR2 is a 5th generation missile with an engagement range of 5.5km, and Spike SR is a company-level fire-and-forget light missile for 2km.
Spike SR is a light shoulder-launched disposable fire-and-forget missile, effective up to 2km. Weighing only 10kg, and with a dual seeker, the SPIKE SR allows the maneuvering infantry to acquire and engage fast-moving targets at short range, thanks to its advanced tracker.
There is a forum for Spike users, where they share their combat experience and request upgrades.
The growing trend of developing manned and unmanned combat vehicles has opened a new potential market for the different Spike missiles. The missiles can be integrated into a weapon station carried by the vehicle or installed on a launcher attached to the vehicle.
