RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems has unveiled the L-SPIKE 1x, a next‑generation tactical loitering munition designed for company-level forces and built as an upgraded successor to the SPIKE Firefly. Weighing just 2.2 kg and backpack‑portable, the retrievable and reusable system offers up to 5 km of range, 15–30 minutes of loitering time, and a 360° fragmentation warhead. Engineered to operate in GPS‑denied or communication‑disrupted environments, it integrates VIS/IR sensors, target tracking, and AI‑driven movement prediction. The L‑SPIKE 1x gives ground units rapid, independent precision‑strike capability—earning the nickname “the Company Commander’s Army Aviation”—and anchors RAFAEL’s new L‑SPIKE Family of loitering munitions built on decades of classified operational experience. They write:
RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems today announced the L-SPIKE 1x, a tactical loitering munition with a coaxial configuration and a fragmentation warhead intended for company-level use. It is an upgraded evolution of the well-known, combat-proven SPIKE Firefly.
The L-SPIKE 1x was developed at Rafael to the highest MIL-STD specifications and is capable of operating under navigation-denied conditions such as GPS jamming or spoofing, communication disruptions, and harsh weather. “Thanks to these high safety standards,” said an official from RAFAEL, “we can proudly say that this retrievable and reusable munition has, despite intensive operational use, maintained a flawless safety record and not a single safety incident has occurred to date.”
Key capabilities
• Range: up to 5 km
• Munition weight: 2.2 kg; backpack-portable
• Loitering time: 15 minutes (armed) / 30 minutes (recon)
• Warhead: fragmentation, ~420 g, 360° fragmentation
• Vision & AI: VIS/IR sensors, target tracking, and AI-based prediction of target movement
The L-SPIKE 1x was designed for deployment at the company level for maneuvering forces. It provides immediate, independent precision-strike capability, reducing reliance on external air or ground fire support. The L-SPIKE 1x has become known as the “Company Commander’s Army Aviation,” empowering tactical units with new levels of lethality, situational awareness, and independence on the battlefield.
The system is part of a new family of loitering munitions that Rafael is introducing — the L-SPIKE Family, built on 40 years of experience in electro-optical systems and more than two decades of operational experience in loitering systems, much of which until recently remained classified.
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