Indian Army invests in Israeli Rafael Spike anti-tank missiles.

On August 27, 2023, the Indian Army signed a contract with Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd (KRAS) for an undisclosed number of Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). The deal is valued at 287 million Indian Rupees, which is a little over 3 million euros.
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Israeli Spike Anti-Tank Missiles produced by Rafael (Picture source: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems )

The Spike missile is a versatile weapon system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Israel. It is equipped with a tandem-charge high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead. The missile can engage and destroy targets within the line of sight of the launcher, and some variants can even perform a top attack using a "fire, observe, and update" method. This allows the operator to either track the target or switch to another target optically through a trailing fiber-optic wire or an RF link, as in the case of the vehicle-mounted, long-range NLOS variant.

The Spike missile system comes in various versions, including the Spike-MR with an effective firing range of 200 to 2,500 meters, and the Spike-LR with a range of 200 to 4,000 meters. The missile features state-of-the-art third-generation day and night electro-optical seeker technology, including uncooled imaging infrared (IIR), a high-resolution charge-coupled device (CCD), and an optimized tracker. This ensures a high probability of hitting both stationary and moving targets in all weather conditions.

This acquisition is particularly significant for the Indian Army, given the escalating tensions on its borders. The Spike ATGMs will not only enhance the Army's anti-tank capabilities but also provide a versatile platform for engaging a variety of targets, including bunkers and fortified positions. The delivery is expected to be completed by August 27, 2024.

As of now, the exact variant and the number of Spike missiles ordered by the Indian Ministry of Defense have not been disclosed. However, it can be assumed that the Indian Armed Forces have chosen the Spike NLOS variant, given that India had previously ordered several of these. This is an interesting choice since it is the variant with the longest range and costs approximately 195,000 euros per unit. This would mean that India has ordered between 15 and 16 Spike missiles.

The Spike NLOS (Non-Line Of Sight) is an ultra-long-range version of the Israeli Spike missile system, with a maximum range of 25 km and an overall weight of around 70 kg. Developed in response to lessons learned from the Yom Kippur War, it entered service with the Israel Defense Forces in 1981. Over the years, the system has been adopted and modified by various countries, including the British Army, which used it for counter-mortar fire in Iraq. The missile has undergone several upgrades, with the latest 6th generation variant boasting a range of 50 km, the ability to launch up to four missiles at once, and compatibility with strategic UAVs. It has also seen interest from the U.S. Army, which tested it on Apache helicopters, and from South Korea, which agreed to purchase an undisclosed number of units.