Mesko becomes a part of the SPIKE SR Global Supply Chain after the missile components to be produced in Poland.
Israeli Defense Company, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Poland’s Mesko agreed to co-produce the shoulder-fired SPIKE SR (Short-Range) ATGM (anti-tank guided missile) as part of Poland’s Pustelnik Program.
Pustelnik Program that is managed by the Polish Defense Ministry Inspection Board, aims to select an anti-tank weapon for Poland Territorial Defense Forces.
SPIKE SR is an advanced fire-forget anti-tank missile with a short-range that exceeds 2000m. It’s easy to use and requires short-time training. It can be operated day and night by one personnel. SPIKE SR, weighing 10kg, is capable of defeating any type of armored vehicle and main battle tank. It has a disposable feature that enables the user for faster mobility and maneuverability after firing.
SPIKE SR, which is the smallest member of the well-established, globally known, and combat-proven SPIKE ATGM Family, is a missile system. It is in service in 34 countries including 19 NATO members, with over 34,000 missiles already supplied and more than 6,000 fired in tests and combat.
SPIKE LR (Long-Range) is the other version of the system that has been in use by the Polish Defense Forces for some 15 years now, and the missile parts were produced by Mesco as part of indigenous production, and final assembly taking place in Poland, which allows for the infrastructure to produce the SPIKE SR missile in Poland, for the future.
One of Rafael’s strengths lies in its ability to create partnerships, transfer production, knowledge, and technology, to promote local employment. Rafael also conducts a wide array of offset activities globally. Rafael has over 15 years of successful experience in production and technology transfer programs, implemented at more than 50 overseas companies located in the US, Europe and other countries.
SPIKE SR ATGM
SPIKE SR missiles are produced to use in different combat scenarios by infantry and Special Forces. It has a unique characteristic that provides to be ready a high level of operational. It can be carried easily by a person without affecting maneuverability, enabling easy set-up, intuitive and quick operation, within only a few seconds it’s locked and loaded, in a variety of operational and environmental scenarios.
The missile’s lethality is achieved by a tandem charge HEAT warhead with a precursor charge that defeats the Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), allowing the main warhead to achieve its full penetration of Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA). It can be used in all scenarios and ranges extreme weather conditions (from -35˚C to 55˚C), and in complex combat scenarios, such as engagement of fast-moving targets, with a high-hit probability.
The missile’s standoff range provides a higher degree of force survivability, as it does not rely on any means of designation e.g. such as laser, enabling the force to stay hidden. SPIKE SR enables operational flexibility, due to the fact that its operation does not require special training, infrastructure, and an exclusive user. SPIKE SR is an effective, powerful munition which does not require a central command and allows to decentralize and disperse the operators to cover more terrain, a relevant concept of operation for territorial defense forces.
Director of Marketing and Business Development, Precision Tactical Weapon Systems directorate at Rafael, Gal Papier said: “A future decision to equip the Polish Army with the SPIKE SR offers not only an operational advantage, exceeding the specification requirements of the Pustelnik program, but also an economic benefit to the local economy, as it further deepens industrial cooperation between Mesko and Rafael, making Mesko part of the SPIKE SR global supply chain, as components of the missile will be produced in Poland, not only for the local market but also for export customers.”
