What is the Spike LR2? Rafael’s Long-Range Multi-Mode Anti-Tank Missile, Explained
The Rafael Spike LR2 is the long-range variant of Israel’s flagship anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) family, designed and produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Introduced in 2018 as the successor to the Spike LR, the LR2 extends engagement range to 5,500 m (10 km from a helicopter), introduces a multi-purpose warhead with selectable detonation modes, and adds a high-resolution imaging seeker that gives the missile both fire-and-forget and man-in-loop guidance modes in the same airframe. With more than 39 nations operating the Spike family and roughly 35,000 rounds produced, Spike is the most-exported ATGM in the world outside of the Soviet Konkurs/Kornet legacy.
Key facts at a glance
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Long-range multi-mode fire-and-forget ATGM |
| Manufacturer | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems |
| In service | 2018 (LR2) |
| Range | 5,500 m (man-portable); 10,000 m (helicopter-launched) |
| Missile weight | 12.7 kg |
| System weight | 32 kg (tripod + CLU + missile) |
| Warhead | Multi-purpose (tandem HEAT + blast-fragmentation + penetrator) – selectable |
| Penetration | ~1,000 mm RHA after ERA |
| Guidance | Imaging IR + EO seeker; fire-and-forget OR man-in-loop via fiber-optic data link |
| Operators | 39 nations including Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Australia, India, South Korea, Brazil, Singapore, Ukraine |
| Unit cost | ~ USD 200,000 per missile |
The Spike family
| Variant | Range | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Spike SR | 1,500 m | Shoulder-launched, disposable |
| Spike MR / Gill | 2,500 m | Man-portable medium-range |
| Spike LR | 4,000 m | Man-portable / vehicle long-range |
| Spike LR2 | 5,500 m | Latest variant; multi-purpose warhead |
| Spike ER / ER2 | 8,000 m | Helicopter / vehicle extended-range |
| Spike NLOS | 32 km | Non-line-of-sight; fiber-optic guidance |
Multi-mode guidance: the LR2 innovation
The Spike LR2’s defining feature is its dual guidance philosophy. The gunner can:
- Fire-and-forget mode – lock the seeker on the target before launch, then immediately reposition or engage another target. The missile uses imaging IR + EO comparison to track autonomously.
- Man-in-loop mode – the seeker streams imagery back via the integrated fiber-optic data link; the gunner can guide the missile around obstacles, redirect onto a different target after launch, or abort if civilians enter the target zone.
The fiber-optic link runs through a high-strength composite cable that unspools from the missile during flight.
Combat record
- 2003 – present – Lebanon, Gaza. Spike has been the IDF’s standard ATGM since 1997.
- 2014 – present – Iraq / Syria. German, Spanish and Italian Spike LR2 deliveries reached Iraqi Kurdish forces; multiple ISIS armor kills confirmed.
- 2022 – present – Ukraine. Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Lithuania, Italy and Latvia transferred Spike to Ukraine. Verified kills include T-72B3M, T-80BVM and BMP-3 vehicles.
- 2023 – present – Gaza. Heavy IDF use across all ground operations from 7 October 2023.
Spike LR2 vs. its peers
| Spike LR2 | Javelin FGM-148F | NLAW | Kornet-D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range | 5,500 m | 4,000 m | 1,000 m | 8,000 m |
| Guidance | IR+EO; FAF + man-in-loop | Imaging IR; FAF | PLOS; one-shot | Laser beam-riding |
| Top-attack | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| System weight | 32 kg | 22 kg | 12.5 kg | 63 kg |
| Unit cost | ~ USD 200K | ~ USD 178K | ~ USD 30K | ~ USD 30-50K |
The U.S. Army Spike NLOS integration
In 2024 the U.S. Army accepted operational integration of Spike NLOS (32 km range) on the AH-64E Apache Guardian – the first Israeli weapon system integrated on a U.S. attack helicopter. The U.S. Army has ordered 600+ Spike NLOS rounds, extending Apache’s engagement range from Hellfire’s 11 km to over three times that distance.
Why Spike matters
The Spike family has set the global benchmark for multi-mode ATGM design. Its combination of fire-and-forget autonomy with optional man-in-loop control gives infantry and helicopter crews flexibility unmatched by any other Western ATGM. With 39 operators, sustained combat use across four wars, and the U.S. Army’s Apache Spike NLOS integration, the family is positioned as the dominant non-American Western ATGM through the 2030s.
