The SPIKE Trainer for the Latvians

The Latvian National Armed Forces have completed the introduction of a new state-of-the-art team trainer for SPIKE missiles. The new system will train the Latvian armed forces for the use of the SPIKE LR2 and SR missiles from Rafael Advanced Defense System, procured by EuroSpike, a European joint venture between Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, Diehl Defence, and Rheinmettal Defence.

SPIKE LR2 is a 5th generation missile with a combat range of 5.5 km, and SPIKE SR is a light fire-and-forget missile with a range of up to 2 km at the company level.

The STT (SPIKE Team Trainer), was installed by teams from Rafael and EuroSpike in late August 2020. The STT provides SPIKE LR2 and SPIKE SR shooters, team and section commanders with a fully simulated battlefield training that enhances both gunnery and leadership skills, guiding the shooter through all phases of the firing sequence from VIS or IR surveillance of a simulated image to target impact.

The STT can simulate real-time command challenges, such as managing multiple launcher systems, training synergy between observation and fire positions, and instructing gunners and commanders in handling various scenarios. The STT uniquely simulates different environmental scenarios on a real terrain database with varying visibility conditions, simulating different seasons, and can be developed and customized based on specific customer requirements, such as analysis of real threats, combat doctrine, and expected enemy course of action.

The SPIKE training trains go through a complete cycle of mission planning, mission execution, and detailed debriefing after deployment based on data collected during the scenario, which is fully documented (including video, audio, and radio recordings), allowing for optimal post-deployment briefing.

The SPIKE SR is a lightweight, shoulder-launched fire-and-forget one-way rocket with a range of up to 2 km. Weighing only 10 kg and with dual seekers, SPIKE SR enables maneuvering infantry to rapidly engage and defeat fast-moving targets at short distances thanks to its advanced tracker system.

The SPIKE LR2 is a fifth-generation multipurpose missile. SPIKE LR2 features an improved combat range of up to 5.5 km, weighing only 13 kg, with increased lethality, advanced target tracking capabilities, and a new network-enabled third-party target assignment extension with an embedded Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) assembly.

EUROSPIKE on the Internet: www.eurospike.com