A new tactical loitering munition is joining the battlefield, and it is built around a simple idea: give small units their own precision‑strike tool.
RAFAEL’s L‑SPIKE 1x takes the company’s combat‑tested SPIKE Firefly and reworks it into a coaxial, fragmentation‑armed system.
The result is a portable munition that weighs just over 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) but arrives with the punch and awareness normally reserved for larger platforms.
The Tech Behind It
The L‑SPIKE 1x leans heavily on ruggedization and autonomy to stay useful when conditions go sideways.
It is built to operate through GPS denial, degraded comms, harsh weather, and all the electronic trickery that normally blinds small drones.
It can reach out to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), loiter for up to 30 minutes in recon mode, and switch to a 15‑minute armed profile when carrying its 420‑gram fragmentation warhead.
Dual sensors feed target data into an onboard AI that predicts movement and keeps the munition locked onto maneuvering threats.
Why It Matters
Where the system gets interesting is its role at the company level.
Instead of waiting for external fire support, maneuvering units get their own “pocket aviation,” or a miniature air support capability to prosecute targets immediately.
RAFAEL has even nicknamed it the “Company Commander’s Army Aviation,” a reference to what it offers in independence, lethality, and situational awareness.
It gives tactical teams the ability to see, decide, and strike without breaking momentum.
