Eurospike enables Rafael to navigate geopolitical challenges in international markets by providing a localised production model. “There is geopolitics that affects the ability to sell and the need for local solutions, when it has the advantage of not being known as an Israeli company,” said Tzvi Marmor, Rafael EVP and general manager of the Land and Naval Systems Division, in an interview with Globes.
Most of the manufacturing is conducted in Europe under this partnership, and official export figures reflect only Rafael’s share of the total revenue from such deals. “Rafael’s relationship with Rheinmetall and Diehl is amazing, and has proven itself,” a senior defence official told Globes.
The official added, “Portraying the deals as German as part of Eurospike is a smart move by Rafael, which has resulted in Spike becoming NATO’s unofficial missile and the most sought-after missile in the world. This is a model of how an Israeli company should operate, by joining forces with European players.”
The Spike missile family includes a variety of models adapted for different ranges and platforms, from the 10-kilogram, shoulder-launched Spike SR with a range of up to 2 kilometres, to the Spike NLOS (Tammuz), which weighs 71 kilograms and can strike targets up to 32 kilometres away from land, air, or sea. The most in-demand models globally are the Spike LR with a 4-kilometre range and the LR2, capable of reaching 5.5 kilometres from ground launch and up to 10 kilometres from the air.
Source: Globes.
