By Arie Egozi, Autonomy Global — Ambassador for Israel
In a significant milestone for autonomous ground combat systems, Israel’s SPIKE LR guided missile has been successfully fired from a German unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for the first time, marking a new frontier in lethal autonomous platforms.
RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems and EuroSpike GmbH conducted a joint series of live firing tests in Germany with the SPIKE LR aboard Diehl Defence’s Ziesel UGV, making the Ziesel the first system on which a modern guided missile has been successfully fired. The five-day test campaign resulted in 17 successful missile launches, with the platform demonstrating structural integrity and operational stability under live-fire conditions.
The SPIKE LR is an all-weather, precision anti-armor missile equipped with advanced optronic sensors capable of striking armored targets with high penetrating power. The Ziesel platform is augmented by Diehl Defence’s PLATON autonomy kit, enabling fully autonomous navigation including waypoint following, obstacle avoidance, and person-following modes.
The Ziesel has previously been fielded in logistical and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) configurations, but this test marks its operational debut as an effector carrier. The platform is currently undergoing evaluation by multiple armed forces, including Germany and Ukraine.
Following the test series, participating companies confirmed their commitment to accelerating development milestones and are planning a demonstration for representatives from various armed forces to showcase the SPIKE LR–Ziesel combination’s combat potential.