1 photo

Missile

Israel

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

Spike LR2

An Israeli fire-and-forget, fiber-optic/RF-datalink guided anti-tank missile with lock-on-before-or-after-launch flexibility and man-in-the-loop terminal control. Spike is one of the most widely exported ATGM families, fielded by vehicle, helicopter and dismounted variants across dozens of countries.

In service since 2018 · 35 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

km range

0.6

Mach

kg warhead

Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Israeli export-licensed

Israeli MoD (DECA/SIBAT) licensing; active export programme.

Channel: Direct commercial / G2G

Fielded & proven

Widely fielded · 35 operators

In service since 2018. Status: active.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Performance specifications
Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.	0.6 Mach Bottom 6% of missiles
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.	6 km Bottom 9% of missiles

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Firepower specifications
Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range.	8 kg Stronger than 15% of missiles
Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable.	Tandem-charge HEAT
Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire.	Electro-optical/infrared homing, Fiber-optic and RF datalink, Lock-on before or after launch

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Physical specifications
Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.	1.6 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.	34 kg

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Propulsion specifications
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…	Solid-fuel rocket

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Program specifications
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.	35 Top 4% of missiles

Specifications compiled from public Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

Compare with rivals

See how it stacks up

Missile

Spike LR2 AGM-86 ALCM

Boeing AGM-86 ALCM

View AGM-86 ALCM ↗

Missile

Spike LR2 AIM-7 Sparrow

Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow

View AIM-7 Sparrow ↗

Missile

Spike LR2 AGM-88E AARGM

Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM

View AGM-88E AARGM ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is the range of the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2? +

The Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2 has a maximum range of 6 km.

How much does the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2 weigh? +

The Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2 has a combat weight of 34 kg.

What is the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2 used for? +

The Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2 is a missile typically used for anti armor.

How many countries operate the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2? +

The Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2 is operated by 35 countries.

How much does the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2 cost? +

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR2: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.