Manufactured by Israeli defense contractor Rafael, the SPIKE NLOS missile has been in service for years—and has seen extensive combat in the Israeli Defense Forces’ operations in the Levant.

In August, AH-64 Apache helicopters assigned to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade fired for the first time Spike NLOS missiles in the Middle East.  

AH-64E v6 Apache Guardian attack helicopters fired the SPIKE NonLine of Sight (NLOS) missiles against mock targets somewhere within the US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.  

The successful integration of the munition will increase the strike options of the Army’s AH-64 Apache fleet.  

Spike NLOS In CENTCOM 

In a photograph caption posted on DVIDS, the military’s media repository, CENTCOM indicated that an AH-64 Apache helicopter from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade had “depart[ed] on a mission to conduct the first live-fire of the SPIKE NonLine of Sight (NLOS) missile.” The mission was dated August 27, roughly three weeks ago.

The Army has been planning to add the Spike NLOS to its AH-64 Apache arsenal for some time. The selection of the Israeli-made munition is designed to field an interim longer-range missile besides the existing AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground (JAGM) munitions that the AH-64 fleet already carries.   

In addition to its test firings in the Middle East, the Army has tested the AH-64 and Spike NLOS combination in Europe. There, an AH-64E assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade fired two missiles against maritime targets, marking the first time the munition was used by AH-64s in Europe. The two test firings suggest that the Army is close, if it has not already, to integrating the missile in its operational fleet.

“The event marks a significant milestone in the advanced precision strike capability into the Brigade’s arsenal as it supports Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve,” the DVIDS caption added.

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, or CJTF-OIR, is the US military’s unit dedicated to fighting the remnants of the so-called Islamic State. Although the US-led coalition has landed devastating blows on the terrorist organization that once plagued large swaths of Syria and Iraq, ISIS elements still exist in hiding across the sparsely populated desert between Syria and Iraq.

As warfare is changing, the Army is also rethinking the role and capabilities of its AH-64 Apache fleet. Recently, the Army tested the attack helicopter’s capabilities against unmanned aerial drones, finding great success with all of its weapon systems against drones.  

What to Know About the Spike NLOS Missile 

The Spike NLOS is a multi-purpose missile that relies on electro-optical/infrared systems to hit its target.  

Manufactured by Israeli defense contractor Rafael, the SPIKE NLOS missile has been in service for years—and has seen extensive combat in the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) operations in the Levant. 

The missile has a range of approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) and can be used against ground, naval, and air targets, making it a quite useful munition to carry as it does not limit the strike options of an attack helicopter. Moreover, the Spike NLOS is a standoff munition that can strike a target outside of the helicopter’s line of sight, hence its name.  

Crucially, the Spike NLOS is not designed just for helicopters; the munition can also be fired from ground and naval assets, giving it a great deal of versatility.

Although the AH-64 Apache can carry a plethora of munitions, the addition of the Spike NLOS will further increase the lethality of the Army’s main attack helicopter.