The U.S. Army has officially advanced the Israeli-developed Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) missile into Phase 2 of its procurement and integration process. The move signals a growing commitment to fielding a long-range precision strike capability that can engage targets up to 32 kilometers away from a variety of platforms. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and co-produced in the U.S. by Lockheed Martin under Foreign Military Sales (FMS), the Spike NLOS is positioned to fill a critical gap between existing anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and longer-range fires.
Spike NLOS: A Proven Long-Range Precision Weapon
The Spike NLOS is part of Rafael’s broader SPIKE family of electro-optically guided missiles but stands apart due to its extended range and man-in-the-loop control. The current variant offered to the U.S. military boasts a range exceeding 32 km when launched from aerial platforms and approximately 25 km from ground vehicles. It features real-time video feed via fiber-optic or RF datalink, allowing operators to select or re-designate targets mid-flight—an essential capability in dynamic battlefield environments.
Key specifications include:
- Range: Up to 32 km (air-launched), ~25 km (ground-launched)
- Warhead: Tandem HEAT or multipurpose blast-fragmentation
- Guidance: EO/IR with real-time video and GPS/INS navigation
- Control: Man-in-the-loop with mid-course correction
The missile has been combat-proven in multiple conflicts by Israeli forces and other international users. Its ability to engage hidden or moving targets without line-of-sight makes it ideal for urban warfare, mountainous terrain, or counter-battery missions.
Phase 2 Transition: Toward Full Operational Integration
The recent transition into Phase 2 follows successful evaluations under the U.S. Army’s Directed Requirement program initiated in FY2020. According to statements from Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS), Phase 1 involved limited user testing with AH-64E Apache helicopters and JLTV-based launchers under U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). These trials validated interoperability with U.S. command-and-control systems and demonstrated successful engagements at extended ranges.
Phase 2 will focus on broader integration across multiple platforms including rotary-wing aircraft, ground vehicles like Stryker variants equipped with Medium Caliber Weapon Systems (MCWS), and potentially unmanned systems. The goal is to establish an organic precision strike option within brigade combat teams (BCTs) that bridges the gap between Javelin-class ATGMs (~4 km) and artillery systems like HIMARS (~70+ km).
Strategic Rationale: Filling the Tactical Deep Strike Gap
The drive toward fielding Spike NLOS reflects evolving U.S. Army doctrine emphasizing multi-domain operations (MDO) against peer adversaries such as Russia or China. In particular, the need for responsive fires capable of engaging time-sensitive or high-value targets beyond direct line-of-sight is central to concepts like Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2).
The system offers several advantages over traditional tube-launched ATGMs:
- Beyond-line-of-sight engagement: Enables deep strike without exposing launchers
- C4ISR synergy: Can be cued by UAVs or ISR assets via Link-16 or other networks
- Lethality vs armor & soft targets: Effective against tanks, bunkers, radar sites
This aligns with the U.S. Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) roadmap but at shorter ranges—providing tactical units with more flexible options below corps-level fires.
Industrial Collaboration Between Rafael and Lockheed Martin
The Spike NLOS program is also notable for its industrial structure. Under an agreement signed in October 2020, Lockheed Martin serves as Rafael’s strategic partner in the United States for local production and support under FMS channels. This includes final assembly at Lockheed facilities in Camden, Arkansas—a key factor in securing Congressional support amid Buy American preferences.
This partnership ensures that future deliveries meet both operational timelines and domestic content requirements while enabling potential technology transfer opportunities down the line.
Export Successes Drive Confidence
The system has already seen export success beyond Israel—including South Korea’s AH-64 fleet integration plans announced in late 2023—as well as adoption by UK special forces under Project Wolfram trials using Supacat HMT vehicles.
Future Outlook: Potential Expansion Across DoD Services
If Phase 2 proves successful across multiple platforms within the Army inventory, there is potential for broader adoption across other services such as SOCOM rotary-wing units or even Navy littoral vessels seeking standoff land attack capabilities in contested zones.
The modularity of Spike NLOS allows it to be adapted quickly across air/land/maritime domains—making it attractive not just as an interim solution but possibly as part of a longer-term joint-service precision fires ecosystem alongside loitering munitions like Switchblade-600 or Hero-120.
Pacing Threats Drive Urgency
The urgency behind these developments is driven by lessons learned from Ukraine where long-range ATGMs have proven decisive against armored formations when paired with ISR assets like drones or counterbattery radars—scenarios that closely mirror NATO planning assumptions for Eastern Europe contingencies.
Sustainment Considerations Remain Key Challenge
Sustainment infrastructure—including training simulators, spares logistics chains, software updates for EO/IR seekers—will be critical during Phase 3 if full-rate production is approved post-FY2026 budget cycle.
