U.S. Army Fires Israeli Spike NLOS In Europe For The 1st Time; Poland Eyes The Missile For Its Apache Helos

By
Sakshi Tiwari
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AH-64E Apache helicopter fired the Israeli-origin Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile in Poland, marking the first employment of the Spike NLOS system by the U.S. Army in the European theater.

A joint live-fire of a Spike NLOS missile system from an AH-64Ev6 Apache Guardian was conducted by the US Army and the Polish Air Force Inspectorate with support from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems at the Ustka range in Poland late last month.

“The campaign, held on the northern coast of Poland, marked an important milestone for allied long-range precision strike capabilities,” the US Army said in a statement at the time.

The AH-64E v6 Apache Guardian is the latest and most advanced variant of the Boeing AH-64 Apache, a twin-engine attack helicopter renowned as the world’s premier multi-role combat platform.

The “v6” designation refers to Version 6, an evolutionary upgrade that includes enhanced sensors, software, weapons integration, and networking for multi-domain operations (MDO). This configuration emphasizes lethality, survivability, and interoperability in contested environments.

Fired from the AH-64E v6 Guardian, the Spike NLOS missiles engaged sea-based targets at distances of about 26 kilometers. The test demonstrated “precision strike accuracy and flexible target engagement from a rotary-wing platform,” as per the US Army.

A video of the drill was also released by the service that showed two sequential firings of the Spike NLOS missiles tube-launched from the helicopter’s rails. The launches were seen producing visible smoke trails and exhaust plumes as the missiles streaked away from the aircraft toward distant sea-based targets.

The test is significant as it showcased the system’s effectiveness in maritime scenarios, hitting sea-based targets from a rotary-wing platform. The combination of Apache and Spike NLOS could be ideal for anti-ship roles or engaging coastal threats without exposing the helicopter to hostile defences.

“The Spike NLOS missile’s successful integration on the AH-64E Apache emphasizes the system’s capability to meet evolving mission needs, particularly in maritime and beyond-line-of-sight scenarios,” the US Army said. Meanwhile, Rafael said, “At ranges of 26 km, SPIKE NLOS once again proved its unmatched precision and long-range engagement capabilities, strengthening allied interoperability and advancing future force readiness.”

The missile has already been deployed on previous occasions. The US Army’s 101st Airborne Division conducted combat trials of the Israeli-made Spike NLOS missile system, including the first-ever launch in Iraq in March 2025.

“This milestone event occurred during the unit’s deployment to the Middle East in support of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR),” the Army said in a release earlier.

Separately, the Army published images of Spike NLOS-armed Apaches from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade participating in Exercise Allied Spirit 2025 in Germany. However, the weapons weren’t launched during the exercise. The test-firing in Poland, thus, marks the first time the Army has launched Spike NLOS from any platform in Europe.

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File: U.S. Army Soldiers of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade prepare to test fire a Spike non-line of sight (NLOS) missile from an AH-64 Apache Aug. 26, 2025.

The live-firing of Spike NLOS in Poland, as it lies in the Eastern Flank of NATO, has remained tense since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. The test showcased enhanced long-range precision strike capabilities in this critical region. Notably, observers from over 10 NATO allies attended, including senior commanders, signaling broad interest in adopting similar capabilities.

Poland is eyeing the acquisition of the Spike NLOS for its Apache helicopters, as it bolsters its overall security posture in the region with a comprehensive military modernisation that includes the purchase of fighter jets, choppers, battle tanks, rocket launchers, etc.

Poland signed a deal for about 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Among other things, the deal included 1,844 Hellfire missiles, 96 training missiles, 460 Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM), 508 Stinger 92K Block I missiles, and 7,650 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II Guidance Sections, among other things.

The addition of Spike NLOS will add a key stand-off capability to this lethal arsenal.

Earlier this year, Col. Krzysztof Zwoliński, Head of the Rotary-Wing Aviation Department of the Air Force Inspectorate, said the country needs munitions that enable long-range precision strikes to enhance the capabilities of the Polish helicopters. He confirmed that the Polish Armed Forces are mulling the purchase of Spike NLOS missiles for Apache Guardian helicopters, as reported by local publication Defense24 at the time.

File Image: AH-64 Apache IAF

Poland already operates earlier Spike variants (LR and LR2) extensively for anti-tank roles, which is likely to provide a logistical and training foundation for NLOS integration. Moreover, it will add more teeth to NATO’s arsenal against Russia and enhance interoperability between the US and Poland.

The latest test of the missile could be a precursor to its purchase by Warsaw.

The Spike NLOS

The Spike Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) is a precision-guided, multi-purpose missile developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Part of the Spike missile family, it is designed for long-range, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) engagements, targeting armored vehicles, ships, fortifications, and personnel with high accuracy.

Depending on the variant, it can reach a range of 32 to 50 kilometers. The Spike NLOS emphasizes standoff capability, allowing operators to strike targets without direct visual contact, reducing exposure to enemy fire. It features real-time tactical intelligence via a datalink, enabling mid-flight adjustments, target reassignment, and damage assessment.

The missile’s EO/IR seeker provides day/night, all-weather operation with a live video feed for “fire, observe, and update” tactics. It supports non-GPS-dependent navigation, making it effective in jammed environments. This makes it perfect for contested areas since it enables mid-flight retargeting, salvo launches, and functioning in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) modes without the need for GPS.

Spike NLOS provides over four times the range of the standard AGM-114 Hellfire, which has a range of about 8 to 11 kilometres, enabling beyond-visual-range strikes against armor, ships, or high-value targets. This will allow Apache crews to strike targets from well beyond enemy close air defense zones, such as short-range anti-aircraft systems or MANPADS.

The Spike NLOS’s multi-mode guiding is one of its other noteworthy features.  This enables the crew to use the man-in-the-loop (MITL) control approach or to engage fixed targets by giving the missile coordinates.

In the latter, manual changes can be made during the terminal phase since the operator can see the target, thanks to an infrared camera installed in the nose of the missile. The Spike would be a significant upgrade in the Apache weaponry over the Hellfire, which only uses laser guidance.

The Spike NLOS is compatible with tandem warheads for armored targets, high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), and fragmentation options for softer threats.

In manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), the Apache can use drones like the MQ-1C Gray Eagle or RQ-7 Shadow to spot targets beyond its own sensors, then fire Spike NLOS for strikes up to 50 kilometers away.

The missile can be launched from helicopters like Apache, ground vehicles, naval platforms, or fixed sites, with “man-in-the-loop” control for precision and reduced collateral damage. For instance, the US Army has down-selected Spike for use from ground vehicles by infantry brigade combat teams (IBCTs).

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