L-Spike complements the precision-guided missiles already operated by Spike customers. Rafael says users can retain their legacy launchers while drawing on the company’s established training, support and operational knowledge-sharing arrangements.
“The Spike family continues to evolve together with its users,” said Ran Kaplan, Rafael’s vice president and head of its Precision Tactical Weapon Systems Directorate. “Presenting L-Spike to the global Spike community as a natural next step, combining decades of operational expertise and shared user knowledge with new and advanced missile systems loitering capabilities designed to address evolving battlefield challenges.”
The presentation comes as Spike’s worldwide customer base reaches about 48 countries, following the addition of four customers since the previous meeting. Hosted by the Cyprus National Guard, the gathering brought together more than 200 participants from 23 nations.
Rafael and EuroSpike are also investing in production capacity and supply-chain resilience to support that wider customer base. EuroSpike, a joint venture of Diehl Defence, Rheinmetall Electronics and Rafael, manages Spike sales, marketing and programme management across Europe.
“Spike currently has 13 production lines worldwide, reflecting our long-term commitment to the Spike user community and to local industrial cooperation,” Kaplan said. “Rafael and EuroSpike are investing in Spike production lines to further expand manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply-chain resilience and respond more rapidly to evolving market dynamics.”
Founded by user nations in 2003, the annual club provides a forum for exchanging operational lessons and maintenance and training practices. This year’s programme paired national presentations on experience and common challenges with an industry session on capabilities, future developments and industrial cooperation.
“The Spike Users Club provides a valuable framework for exchanging operational, technical and training experience among user nations,” said Lieutenant General Neophytos Pachoulides, deputy chief of the Cyprus National Guard. “It helps us to learn from other armed forces, apply useful lessons to our own tactical requirements and create a direct feedback mechanism through which operational experience contributes to improvements in training, logistics and future capability development.”
