Spike NLOS (Non‑Line‑of‑Sight) is a multi‑role electro‑optical/infrared missile system engineered for high‑precision engagement across a wide range of target types.
Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, the missile can be launched from air, land or sea platforms and provides commanders with real‑time tactical intelligence and battle‑damage assessment. It is suitable for use in both offensive and defensive operations.
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Lockheed Martin has partnered with Rafael to market the missile system to US customers.
Spike NLOS design and features
The Spike NLOS all‑up round (missile in canister) measures 64.9in long, 9.2in wide and 12.2in in height, with an approximate mass of 165lb (74.8kg).
An advanced rocket motor enables rapid engagements to the system’s maximum range of up to 32km from land and 50km from air, supporting time‑sensitive strikes.
The design supports efficient training and mission rehearsal, a low life‑cycle cost through a “wooden round” option and is available in US‑manufactured or Americanised configurations.
The architecture incorporates capabilities such as salvo control, system handover, extended range and rapid target acquisition, which shorten the sensor‑to‑shooter cycle and enable engagement of swarm threats from significant stand‑off distances.
Warhead options
The missile system is equipped with three mission‑tailored warheads available as fragmentation, high-explosive anti‑tank (HEAT) and penetrating blast‑fragmentation (PBF).
The fragmentation warhead is optimised against integrated air‑defence systems, unarmoured vehicles, command‑and‑control nodes and personnel, while the HEAT warhead increases effectiveness against armoured targets.
The PBF warhead is intended to penetrate bunkers, structures or ship hulls before detonation, maximising lethality against hardened targets.
Guidance system
The missile uses an electro‑optical/infrared imaging seeker combined with a wireless, encrypted, two‑way radio frequency datalink to deliver real‑time video to the operator and preserve man‑in‑the‑loop control throughout flight.
The datalink allows seeker imagery to be streamed back to the operator for in‑flight assessment and command.
Spike NLOS mission capabilities
Spike NLOS is the largest missile system in Rafael Advanced Defence Systems’ Spike family of missiles.
The missile system has demonstrated reliable performance in demanding and austere environments including day and night missions and adverse weather conditions. It can perform engagements over ridgelines, global positioning system-denied conditions, in maritime operations, as well as attacks on moving targets.
Spike NLOS supports lock‑on‑before‑launch and lock‑on‑after‑launch direct‑attack profiles, but its principal employment is indirect engagement. It can engage remote or geographically obscured targets from a distance, without requiring a direct line of sight.
This mode of operation relies on an integrated inertial navigation system that accepts operator‑provided target coordinates and can work with networked, third‑party acquisition sensors.
The missile enables the operator to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to improve situational awareness, confirm target identity and assess impact. The operator can reprioritise targets, disarm or abort the mission in flight.
System trials
In December 2023, Lockheed Martin successfully fired eight Spike NLOS all-up rounds over five days from a US Apache Echo Model V6 at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, US.
This live-fire trial secured Airworthiness Release for the Spike NLOS Long Range Precision Munitions Directed Requirement system on the US Apache platform, clearing the path to begin integrating the system onto the Army’s existing Apache V6 fleet.
In August 2025, the US Army, with technical assistance from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and in cooperation with the Inspectorate of the Polish Air Force, conducted a live‑fire trial of Spike NLOS from an AH‑64E Apache at the Central Air Force Training Range in Ustka, Poland.
The US Army temporarily deployed AH‑64Es from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, based in Ansbach, Germany, to support training and evaluation. The exercise was hosted by the Polish Ministry of National Defence with participation from the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces and the Inspectorate of the Polish Air Force.
Orders and deliveries
In August 2025, the US Army selected the Spike NLOS for the Mobile-Long Range Precision Strike Missile Directed Requirement competition, awarding Lockheed Martin the initial phase of a contract to develop and test a precision-guided missile prototype intended for use by Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.
The US Army selected Spike NLOS capability to advance to Phase 2 of the M‑LRPSM Directed Requirement competition in October 2025.
Lockheed Martin received a Phase 2 contract worth $30m to continue integration and testing of the precision‑guided missile system.
During Phase 2, Lockheed Martin will manufacture and supply hardware for safety‑confirmation testing, including fitting the Spike NLOS system to an Infantry Utility Vehicle to validate its safe and effective performance across a range of operating environments.