Spike and Skylite B team up to demonstrate real-time closure of sensor-to-shooter loop

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd carried out a demonstration of the integrated operational capabilities of the Spike multi-purpose missile system and the SkyLite B mini-UAV, in cooperation with customers in a South American country last month.

The purpose of the demonstration was to exhibit the combined capabilities of information gathering, precision attack and Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) while shortening the sensor-to-shooter cycle at the battalion level.
 
The combat proven SkyLite B is a man-portable, mini-UAV system that enables long periods of stealthy reconnaissance and surveillance during the day, at night, and in winds of 30 knots. The SkyLite B, recently proved its extraordinary robustness during a series of flight tests, in which it reached a flight ceiling of 36,000 ft, flew to ranges of 42 km and carried out  3.5 hour missions. Comprising an advanced motion detection capability and, a built in electro-optical tracker, the system autonomously and continuously track moving targets in real-time and provides high resolution images with accurate targeting information.

The well-known Spike-LR and Spike-ER are members of the Spike Family of electro-optic guided missiles; each used for different distances and platforms. The LR and ER have both fire and forget and fire, observe and update modes of operation enabling safe and accurate attack in all types of battle scenarios.

During the demonstration, two Spike-LR launches were carried out at ranges of up to 3.5 km, one with Line of Sight (LOS) and the other to a Non Line Of Sight (NLOS) target. The SkyLite B performed successful real-time Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) of target destruction. 

Leading up to the two Spike-ER NLOS launches, the team dispatched the SkyLite B, which acquired the target, extracted the target coordinates and transferred them to the Spike's Tycoon mission management system. The Tycoon accepted the coordinates and immediately allocated the mission to a Spike gunner. In both scenarios, the Spike-ER missiles hit their targets from ranges of about 7.5 km and the SkyLite B relayed BDA of target destruction.  The sensor-to-shooter loop was closed entirely in real time.

Mr. David Stemer, VP and Manager of the Missiles and NCW Division at Rafael, stated that "the customer participating in the demonstration, expressed satisfaction with the operational capabilities of the integrated Spike-SkyLite B solution." Stemer maintains that "the ability of the tactical teams to provide themselves with independent intelligence and BDA of NLOS targets is a great advantage in today's complex battle arena."