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Lockheed Martin has announced the first successful live fire of eight Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) all up rounds (AURs) from a US Army AH-64E Apache.
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The successful live fire event over a five-day period at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, clears the Spike NLOS long-range precision munitions directed requirement (LRPM DR) system for airworthiness release (AWR) for the US Apache platform.
This paves the way for starting to equip the Rafael-designed and manufactured Spike system onto the US Army’s current AH-64E Apache V6 platforms.
Tom Bargnesi, program management senior manager of the Precision Strike team at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, explained, “This successful demonstration of Spike NLOS showcases that the system is ready to be integrated onto the Army’s current Apache fleet and provides a premier defence capability of choice when precision and accuracy matter.”
The demonstration featured eight Spike NLOS AURs firing from an Apache platform at a variety of targets, showcasing the system’s different mission set capabilities across multiple scenarios.
“The AWR allows delivery of 21st century security solutions to our Army customer for complex threat environments,” Bargnesi added.
This demonstration was one of the final steps for the system to receive AWR and allow the Army to begin fielding Spike NLOS onto its Apache V6 platforms.
In mid-2024, Lockheed Martin will work with the Army to train pilots to use the system on the Apache V6 platforms. The US Army expects the Spike NLOS LRPM DR system to be fully integrated onto all 18 Apache Echo Model V6 platforms by September 2024.
The Spike NLOS is a multi-purpose, electro-optical/infrared missile system. The missile’s advanced rocket motor provides capability to reach ranges up to 32 kilometres, operators can integrate Spike NLOS with ground, aviation or maritime platforms – while leveraging its stand-off capability to strike distant or geographically concealed targets without line of sight.
The weapon’s seeker and wireless datalink provides operators with real-time video imagery and man-in-the-loop control throughout the missile’s flight. This provides operators with the opportunity to alter or abort the mission while en route to the target.
Lockheed Martin has teamed with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to offer the weapon system to US customers.
The AH-64E Apache is one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopters and represents the backbone of the US Army attack helicopter fleet, as well as a growing number of international defence forces.
The twin-engine Apache AH-64E attack helicopter, crewed by a pilot and co-pilot, is designed for destruction of armoured vehicles, personnel, and material targets in battlefield conditions with a max speed of 164 knots and range of 260 nautical miles. It traditionally carries an M230 30mm cannon (1,200 rounds), Hydra-70 2.75-inch rockets, and Hellfire missiles.
According to Boeing, there are nearly 1,300 Apaches in operation globally that have accumulated more than 5 million flight hours, 1.3 million of which have been in combat.
The AH-64E variant will be in production until at least 2028 and is set to be the US’s primary attack helicopter into the 2060s. Boeing delivered the first-generation Apache to the US in January 1984 but it made its first flight in 1975.
Australia will acquire 29 AH-64E Apaches to be built by Boeing as part of the multi-billion-dollar LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program to replace the Army’s troubled ARH Tiger helicopters.
