Four countries became users of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Spike missiles over the past year, bringing the total to 48 countries worldwide, including Cyprus, which hosted a gathering for 200 representatives from 23 of these countries in Larnaca.
The Spike Missile Users Club was established in 2003 and serves as an annual forum for customers and system operators to exchange knowledge and operational experience, share lessons learned in the field, and present best practices in maintenance and training.
To date, approximately 40,000 Spike missiles have been manufactured.
Most participating countries sent representatives to learn about the IDF's use of Spike missiles in Lebanon, as well as their deployment during the military campaign against Iran. This followed the publication of images showing Spike launchers used by Mossad forces to destroy Iranian air defense systems.
For the first time, the Spike L loitering munition system was presented to the international user community, alongside new operational concepts for other Spike systems, including the long-range Spike variant deployed on land, air, and naval platforms.
The event opened with Country Day, during which participating nations shared the operational experience they had gained using Spike missiles.
This was followed by Industry Day, which focused on existing capabilities, future developments, and opportunities for industrial cooperation.
The three-day gathering also featured an international competition in which nine national Spike teams competed in tests of their knowledge and proficiency in operating the missile system. The competition concluded with a live-fire exercise using the Spike SR missile.
Spike missile 'family' continues to evolve, Rafael head says
Ran Kaplan, head of Rafael's Precision Tactical Weapon Systems Directorate, said, "The Spike family continues to evolve together with its users, combining decades of operational experience with ongoing technological innovation. Presenting the Spike L loitering munition system to the global community is another step in expanding the family's range of capabilities to address the changing challenges of the battlefield. At the same time, Rafael and EuroSpike continue to invest in expanding production capacity, strengthening the supply chain, and reinforcing local industrial cooperation as part of our long-term commitment to the global user community."
Lt.-Gen. Neophytos Pachoulides, deputy chief of the Cyprus National Guard, said, "The gathering allows us to learn from the experience of other military forces, apply lessons relevant to our tactical needs, and establish a direct feedback mechanism through which operational experience contributes to improving training, logistics, and the development of future capabilities."
Follow us on GoogleSource: The Jerusalem Post · UDI ETZION
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