RAFAEL’s SPIKE FireFly loitering munition (photo credit: RAFAEL ADVANCED DEFENSE SYSTEMS)
Israel’s Defense Ministry has placed an order for Rafael’s Spike FireFly loitering munition for the IDF ground forces.
Known
as FireFly, it was jointly developed by the ministry and Rafael for the
dismounted soldier who is fighting within the urban arena where,
despite precision being critical, the enemy is behind cover and the
soldier’s situational awareness is limited.
Weighing only three kg., the light, small and agile munition can be
rapidly deployed within seconds. It is portable, durable and includes a
rugged airframe to withstand the harsh environment of urban combat.
“The operation of FireFly is very intuitive, with no special skills
required,” Rafael said in a statement. “FireFly enables overmatch to
break combat deadlock, and has a lethal effect on stationary and moving
targets with or without line-of-sight to operator.”
The
weapon system kit includes three miniature loitering munitions and a
control unit which is based on a ruggedized tablet with a military
standard bidirectional data link. FireFly, which can be operated day or
night, has a low visual and acoustic signature as well as an
abort/wave-off capability and full, safe returnability to the operator
up to attack command.
Able
to operate in winds of up to 23 mph, FireFly’s munitions are powered by
twin electric motors which can loiter for a maximum of 15 minutes at a
maximum altitude of 500 meters in urban terrain and 1500 m. in open
areas, reported Jane's Defence Weekly, a magazine covering military and
corporate affairs.
The
weapons system features a miniature electro-optical tactical loitering
munition which features a dual seeker, target tracker, homing
algorithms, computer vision, Safe & Arm fusing mechanisms, and HMI
(Human-Machine Interface).
Controlling the FireFly through the tablet (Photo Credit:RAFAEL ADVANCED DEFENSE SYSTEMS)
According to Rafael,
these features served as a basis for the development of FireFly, as
well as the tailoring of the weapon system to its unique mission profile
of urban combat.
Rafael has
four missiles in the Spike family – Spike NLOS, Spike ER, Spike MR/LR
and Spike SR – and has supplied over 27,000 Spike missiles and systems
to over 26 countries, including the Philippines, Lithuania, Australia
and India, where they are used by armies on various naval and land
system platforms.
"We are
very proud of this contract, and we believe the procurement of FireFly
by the IDF will dramatically revolutionize the infantry doctrines in
urban close-combat, enabling precision engagement for the lower tactical
echelons beyond-line-of-sight,” said Dr. Ran Gozali, EVP & head of
the Land & Naval Division of Rafael.
“This
will give IDF soldiers a tactical edge in close combat,” he said. “We
see the Firefly as a building block in future potential applications for
a large variety of battle arenas.”
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