AUSA 2025: Rafael updates Spike Firefly, redesignates as L-Spike 1x

Rafael's Spike Firefly loitering munition is now called L-Spike 1x, and can fly out to 5 km range. (Janes/Daniel Wasserbly)

Rafael has updated and renamed its Spike Firefly loitering munition, increasing range and redesignating the weapon as L-Spike 1x, the company revealed at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual symposium in Washington, DC.

Based upon lessons learned over the last two years of operations, Rafael added range from 1.5 km originally to 5 km, and changed the system's software algorithm in part to bolster day vision, Yaron Lavy, head of marketing and business development in Rafael's precision tactical weapon systems directorate, told Janes on 13 October.

According to a company factsheet, L-Spike 1x weighs 2.2 kg and can loiter with a warhead for 15 minutes or in a reconnaissance role for 30 minutes.

“The weapon system kit includes three loitering munitions, a control unit consisting of a ruggedised tablet, and a backpack,” Rafael said. It includes a dual seeker (infrared [IR] and complementary metal oxide semiconductor [CMOS]), “proximity sensors, military standard bidirectional datalink, and a detachable warhead compartment”, it added.

The control unit weighs 2 kg; the vehicle can manoeuvre at 60 km/h (manoeuvring) and dive for attack at 70 km/h, and it carries a blast fragmentation warhead. It measures 80×80 mm in length and width, and is 400 mm tall, the company factsheet said.