L-SPIKE® 4X - New SPIKE Missile with Loitering Capability

According to Rafael's announcement, the L-SPIKE 4X can be launched from legacy Spike launchers on air, land, and naval platforms, and can remain airborne for up to 25 minutes in loitering mode. The company also states that it can engage targets at ranges of up to 40km.

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Rafael to Unveil L-SPIKE 4X Launched Effect at AUSA 2025
Rafael USA will introduce the L-SPIKE 4X Launched Effect –member of the SPIKE Missile Family- for the first time at the AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. L-SPIKE 4X introduces missile-grade loitering capability to the SPIKE family, combining high-speed transit, seeker precision and mission persistence for contested operational environments.

L-SPIKE 4X is a missile designed with loitering built in — not a UAS retrofitted with a warhead. The system is intended for engagements at ranges of up to 40 km and is launchable from legacy SPIKE NLOS launchers on air, land and naval platforms. It will be offered in two primary warhead configurations: Tandem HEAT and Multi-Purpose.

A jet propulsion system delivers mission flexibility: in higher-speed dash profiles L-SPIKE 4X can reach the 40 km engagement envelope in five minutes, markedly faster than most electric loitering effects; in loitering profiles the missile provides on-station persistence of up to 25 minutes. The system is designed for operation in contested electromagnetic environments and GPS-denied environments and includes hardened communications to sustain control under interference.

L-SPIKE 4X integrates an autonomy and operator-support suite that emphasizes man-in-the-loop control. The architecture supports AI-enabled functions, including automatic target recognition and target image acquisition, and enables a single operator to supervise and coordinate up to four missiles simultaneously, in one mission, while retaining human decision authority.

Yoav Tourgeman, CEO & President of Rafael, said:

“With L-SPIKE 4X we bring SPIKE’s missile pedigree into a new dimension — combining the speed and precision of a missile with the persistence of a Launched Effect. Compatibility with existing SPIKE NLOS launchers enables rapid, practical integration and expands operational options across air, land and sea.”

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- They invest in science. This country has a quarter of its currency. It has military and technological science that is not simple.
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