Global Spike Missile Users Convene in Cyprus as Club Expands to 48 Nations
Delegates from 23 countries gathered in Cyprus for Rafael's Spike missile conference, reviewing combat use in Lebanon and Iran while introducing new loitering munitions.
Representatives from 23 nations gathered in Larnaca, Cyprus, for the annual conference of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Spike missile user club. Four new countries have joined the global user network over the past year, bringing the total to 48 nations worldwide, including the host country, Cyprus. To date, approximately 40,000 Spike missiles have been manufactured globally since the forum's establishment in 2003.
Operational Insights and Combat Experience
Most participating delegations attended to review the operational deployment of Spike missiles by the IDF in Lebanon, as well as their use in operations involving Iran. Discussions followed the publication of imagery showing Spike launchers utilized in operations linked to the destruction of Iranian air defense systems.
For the first time, Rafael introduced the Spike FireFly (Spike L) loitering munition system to the international community, alongside new tactical concepts for deploying long-range Spike variants across land, air, and maritime platforms.
Industrial Cooperation and Live-Fire Competitions
The three-day event opened with a dedicated delegations day focusing on operational experience sharing, followed by an industry day highlighting current capabilities, future developments, and industrial partnerships. Nine national teams competed in a live-fire competition using the Spike SR missile.
Ran Kaplan, head of Rafael's Tactical Precision Weapon Systems Directorate, emphasized the system's ongoing evolution, noting that the introduction of the Spike FireFly addresses modern battlefield challenges. Lieutenant General Neofytos Pachoulidis, Deputy Chief of the Cyprus National Guard, highlighted the forum's role in refining tactical readiness and logistical cooperation.
