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Germany has formally adopted the Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), the same missile Australia is acquiring to equip new armoured vehicles.
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In the deal formalised last week, Eurospike, a joint venture between Israel firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and German companies Diehl Defence and Rheinmetall Electronics, signed a contract for supply of Spike LR missiles and launchers to the German Army.
Known as MELLS – Mehrrollenfähiges Leichte Lenkflugkörpersystem – in Germany, the missiles and launchers will be manufactured in Germany by local companies.
That’s in keeping with Rafael’s global policy of teaming up with domestic industry, resulting in knowledge transfer and local job creation.
In Australia, the Spike missiles and launchers will be manufactured by a joint venture between Rafael and Newcastle company Varley.
The German contract was signed by representatives from Eurospike and the German armed forces procurement office, BAAINBw, in Koblenz, Germany.
Under the framework contract, the first order is for supply of 1,500 Spike missiles plus the ICLU (Integrated Control Launch Unit) dismounted missile launchers.
The multi-year framework contract will allow the Bundeswehr to continue procuring additional Spike Missiles and launchers.
As well as dismounted launchers, the German Army is already using vehicle-mounted launcher on its Puma, Marder and Wiesel vehicles.
Spike is an advanced ATGW with a number of firing modes including fire and forget and lock on after launch, allowing attack on hidden targets.
Rafael said 33 countries are now using Spike around the world. Germany is now among 19 other Spike users in the EU and NATO.
To date, more than 30,000 Spike missiles have been supplied throughout the world with more than 5,500 fired in training and combat.
Moshe Elazar, head of the Rafael land and naval division, said this was a significant contract for Eurospike and thus for Rafael, as a leading supplier of fifth-generation ATGM in the world.
“It will undoubtedly cement the German Army’s position as one of the strongest ATGM forces in Europe,” he said.
“The Spike missile and launcher cross-nation commonality enables the nations to manage joint Spike missile stocks, create joint procurement and maintain mutual support. In combination with local production within Europe by Eurospike, Spike is a truly common European missile.”
