Spike-LR II
Contents
Description
The Spike-LR2 (Long Range 2) is an israeli Anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) currently found on the Vilkas and the KF41 Lynx. It can engage non-linear-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight targets. The Spike can also be used as a Surface-to-Air missile (SAM) against enemy aircraft, especially helicopter.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
| Missile characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Calibre | 110 mm |
| Projectile mass | 13 kg |
| Maximum speed | 180 m/s |
| Guidance | IR |
| Lock range | 20.00 km |
| Missile guidance time | 35 secs |
| Explosive mass | 1.27 kg TNTe |
| Fuse sensitivity | 0.01 mm |
| Fuse delay | 0.4 m |
| Armour penetration | 700 mm |
Effective damage
The LR2 features a tandem HEAT warhead. But since most enemies at the Battle Rating (BR) the missile is currently found at (Vilkas: 10.3 and KF41: 10.7), have decent HEAT protection, the missile will often only cause critical damage to an enemy tank (as far as light tanks aren’t concerned) instead of destroying it.
Comparison with analogues
The Spike-LR2 is only one of many Spike missile system variants. Currently in game, besides the Spike-LR2, are the Spike-MR and the Spike ER missiles, both of which are part of the Spike missile family.
Usage in battles
The Spike-LR2 can be used as an ATGM against enemy tanks as well as a SAM against enemy aircraft.
Using the Spike against tanks
The LR2 is best to be used as a long-range missile against distant enemy tanks. If used at tanks that are closer than 300m, the missile is going to miss. Furthermore, if the missile hits an enemy tank, it is most likely to only do critical damage to the tank instead of destroying it. So it is best to use the Spike-LR2 against light tanks, IFVs and SPAAs, as these vehicles often barely feature any armour that can stop the missile from penetrating them. To get the maximum out of your Spikes you will have to search for enemy tanks with your scouting device or commander optics an then, when you found yourself a suitable target, peek out of your spot and fire the LR2. Since its a fire-and-forget missile, you won't have to think about it after shooting. While waiting for your missile to hit, search for other targets and repeat the process. It is best to use the Spike on open and big maps like Eastern Europe, European Province, Mozdok and many more!
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The Spike can't hit close targets.
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Using the Spike against helicopters
If you want to use the LR2 against enemy aircraft, it is best to look for helicopters since those are barely manuverable. Search the skies for any incoming helicopter and then missile it. Since the missile is IR-guided, it will also not activate the RWR of the missiled helicopter.
Using the Spike against planes
When you want to use the Spike against enemy planes however, you will have to time the launch correctly, to get the best chances for a kill. A plane, that is already close to the battlefield is most likely going to see the launched Spike-LR2 and be able to evade it with ease (either by flaring or outmanouvering as the LR2 doesn't have a high G-overload). With that being said you should focus on unsuspecting planes that are on their way to the battlefield. Since the missile has a long guidance time and doesn’t trigger the planes RWR, it can be shot at distant aircraft. But keep in mind, that the LR2 is relatively slow, so it will take the missile a while to get to the target. If the enemy aircraft notices the it in this time and takes immediate actions to counter it, the Spike is most likely also going to miss.
All in all it is best to use the Spike-LR2 against light tanks and IFVs. Also keep in mind that the missile must be shot at targets further away than 300m. If you want to use the missile against aircraft, you should really focus on incoming helicopters rather than planes because those (as mentioned before) will most likely be able to evade it.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Fire-and-forget guidance
- Tandem warhead
- Since it is IR-guided, the missile won’t trigger the RWR of enemy aircraft
Cons:
- Slow flight speed
- Rarely destroys a tank first-hit
History
The development of the Spike system began in the 1970s by „Rafael Advanced Defense Systems“ for the Israel Defense Forces, with the first variants entering service in the 1980s. Originally known as the NT-Dandy, the Spike missile evolved throughout the years.
In 1987 four more variants of the Spike were developed: SR (short range), MR (medium range), LR (long range) and ER (extended range), which can all be fired from ground stations, vehicles oder helicopters.
It is possible to fire the Spike missiles in fire-and-forget mode, meaning once the weapon is shot, it finds its way to the target without the need of extra data. However, by transmitting data via fiber optic cable, it is possible to steer the missile to another target during flight or to launch the missile without visual contact with the target and only assign it during flight.
The Spike-LR2 is one of the latest versions of the Spike missile (5th generation). It represents a significant advancement in precision strike capabilities, featuring improved range, accuracy, and target engagement capabilities compared to its predecessors.
The missile system can be used for infantry, armored vehicles, naval vessels and helicopters and operates at a long range of up to 5.5 km. It engages direct, non-line-of-sight, and beyond-line-of-sight targets.
Media
See also
- Spike-MR (other Spike missile variant on ground vehicle)
- Spike ER (other Spike missile variant on aircraft)
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- https://www.rafael.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SPIKE-LR2-Brochure.pdf
- https://eurospike.com/spike_lr.min.html
