Small and Agile: Rafael's Loitering Munition Can Deceive Rooftop Snipers
By Dan Arkin, Israel Defense, 13/07/2023
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/58875
Ukraine is currently a testing ground for advanced weapons systems, produced by many countries. One of the trends resulting from this war is the growing interest in the use of small, agile loitering munition systems.
Rafael's contribution to this trend is the Spike Firefly, also known as the “Maoz” – a small, micro-tactical hovering munition that can stay in the air for only 15 minutes and has a combat payload weight of only 350 grams. Despite its small size, it inflicts severe and deadly damage, and it has already undergone operational tests in combat.
The IDF has deployed the Spike Firefly during the recent operation in Jenin, and Rafael concludes that "We are satisfied with its capabilities, learning lessons, implementing those lessons, and improving in future models."
Tzvi Marmor, Vice President, and Head of Rafael’s Precision Tactical Weapons Directorate, stated in a conversation with IsraelDefense that the company is currently manufacturing significant numbers of the Spike Firefly, intended both for the IDF and export, and that there is an initial customer interest in Europe and another three countries.
"Every army with infantry forces essentially needs a product like this, and therefore, the ‘Maoz’ is a revolution in the infantry combat unit." Explains Marmor.
"An infantry unit advances in urban areas with streets, narrow alleys, and buildings, all nearby. Maoz collects intelligence while flying between buildings, can land on a rooftop, can enter a window marked as a target, attack, descend on the target, and destroy it."
"During urban combat, the ‘Maoz’ sees who is waiting for the forces around the corner, observes beyond the line of sight, and can engage the enemy before the infantry unit enters the fight. This small, agile drone hovers, identifies the enemy, can attack, and can also choose not to attack but return to its operator."
The Spike Firefly. Photo: Rafael
When encountering a sniper positioned in a building threatening the force, the Spike Firefly, which is in the air, identifies the attacker and neutralizes them. The warhead, which weighs only 350 grams, has a small explosive charge, making it unsuitable for attacking armored vehicles but capable of destroying soft targets and enemies. The Spike Firefly can stay in the air for 15 minutes, but with an additional battery, its flight time can be doubled.
The Spike Firefly is the youngest and smallest member of Rafael's SPIKE missile family, which is widely used by dozens of customers worldwide. The weapon is new, but the idea is not. Marmor notes the man behind the system, Rafael executive Yaki Hetz, fought in the Sinai during the Six Day War, where he came up with the idea of a small, agile drone for infantry warfare.
The Spike Firefly is capable of attacking and returning to the operator. The return phase posed safety issues for the operators, as the drone returns to them with the explosive material still inside – but this issue has been resolved. It has two small rotors installed one above the other, and this unique structure in such a small weapon ensures stability in wind and accuracy in tracking the target.
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