Philippine Navy has conducted live firing tests with Rafael Naval Spike ER missile system


According to information published by the Facebook account Naval Forces Western Mindanao on October 30, 2021, the Philippine Navy through Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) successfully tested its Spike ER Missile which was launched from one of the Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts (MPAC) of the 3rd Boat Attack Division during Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) events at vicinity 17.8 nautical miles South West off Salkulakit Island, Basilan Province last October 28, 2021.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link


Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Close view of the Rafael Naval Spike ER missile system during the firing test by the Philippine Navy. (Picture source Facebook account Naval Forces Western Mindanao)


The Spike ER missile was fired from MPAC BA489 and hit its target dead center from a distance of 4 kilometers. For the exercise, floating targets were constructed for the live firing exercise. Aside from the missile firing, participating warships also fired and tested their naval guns.

According to NFWM PAO, the event was part of the 5-day PN Exercise Pagsisikap 2021 which aims to test wartime and peacetime doctrines in the conduct of amphibious operations, maritime interdiction operations, surveillance and reconnaissance of the maritime areas, civil-military operations, and a host of other traditional and non-traditional naval operations.

The Spike ER Missile is the navy's first missile capable of penetrating 1,000-mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor. It is a flexible missile system proven by its dual guidance system, which is the command and homing guidance, capable of hitting targets at a maximum distance of 8 km. This is the second time the Spike ER Missile was successfully launched and tested after its delivery to the Philippine Navy in 2018. However, this is the first time that the missile was operationally tested during a live firing exercise.

The Israeli company has developed a naval version of its Spike missile utilizing a dual EO sensor, CCD/IIR, and automatic tracker for day and night applications. It is capable of pinpoint accuracy for surface-to-surface and surface-to-shore target engagement at ranges up to 32 km.

The Naval Spike ER is an advanced naval missile system is comprised of a lightweight, compact and stabilized turret with 4 missiles on the mount ‒ together with a fire control system for ranges up to 10 km with either Penetration-Blast-Fragmentation (PBF) or fragmentation warheads that can be operated in a “Fire & Forget” or “Fire & Update” mode with pinpoint kill accuracy. SPIKE ER is installed on a mount compatible with a variety of platforms, ranging from Rigid Hull Inflated Boats (RHIBs) to larger boats and ships.