US Army Deploys Spike NLOS Missiles on Apache Helicopters for Long-Range Precision Strikes
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On 26 February 2025, the U.S. Army deployed the Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missile on its AH-64E Version 6 attack helicopters, significantly enhancing their long-range strike capabilities. High-resolution images confirmed the presence of these advanced guided missiles during Allied Spirit exercises in Germany, where they have been tested in a multinational operational environment. The integration of the Spike NLOS on the AH-64E represents a key development in the Army’s long-range engagement capabilities, enabling it to engage targets well beyond the front lines while reducing exposure to enemy defenses.
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The integration of the Spike NLOS into Apache helicopters under the Interim Long-Range Precision Munition (I-LRPM) program provides attack units with long-range precision strike capabilities as an interim solution pending the development of next-generation strategic munitions. (Picture source: US DoD)
The Spike NLOS introduces a significant range and firepower advantage, extending the Apache’s strike capability to 32 kilometers. This is four times the range of the AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), which have traditionally been the primary air-to-ground munitions for U.S. attack helicopters. This increased range allows for the engagement of strategic targets beyond the reach of enemy air defense systems. It enhances effectiveness in contested environments where radar-guided and infrared-tracking surface-to-air missile threats are prevalent.
The Spike NLOS is a fifth-generation guided missile designed for beyond-line-of-sight (NLOS) engagement. Its architecture enables deployment from multiple platforms, including ground vehicles, naval vessels, and aircraft, providing operational flexibility. Equipped with a high-resolution multispectral seeker and a real-time bidirectional data link, it allows the operator to adjust the target in flight or abort the mission if necessary. These features improve precision and reduce the risk of collateral damage, ensuring adaptability in dynamic battlefield conditions.
The Spike NLOS weapon system incorporates a multi-purpose warhead capable of engaging armored vehicles, enemy infrastructure, naval assets, and personnel in both urban and open battlefield environments. This versatility makes it an effective tool for neutralizing a wide range of threats, from armored formations to high-value command centers. A key advantage is its independence from GPS, allowing effective operation even in environments where electronic warfare and jamming disrupt satellite-based navigation. Additionally, its low radar and thermal signature minimizes the risk of detection and interception, increasing the survivability of the platforms deploying it.
The integration of the Spike NLOS into Apache helicopters is part of the Interim Long-Range Precision Munition (I-LRPM) program, an initiative aimed at equipping attack units with long-range precision strike capabilities while awaiting the development of next-generation strategic munitions. The decision to adopt this system was made in 2020, followed by extensive evaluation and testing phases on earlier Apache variants. By 2024, it had achieved full certification on the AH-64E Version 6, confirming compatibility with the aircraft’s sensor and targeting systems.
The Spike NLOS’s operational deployment began in August 2023. It initially equipped three attack units: the 1-229th Attack Battalion, the 2-17th Air Cavalry Squadron, and the 1-3rd Attack Battalion, which is currently engaged in multinational exercises in Europe. These deployments contribute to NATO interoperability efforts, ensuring integration within joint operations and enhancing long-range strike capabilities. This strategic deployment is designed to strengthen U.S. and allied forces’ ability to conduct precision engagements while minimizing exposure to hostile countermeasures.
The incorporation of the Spike NLOS into the Apache AH-64E represents a major enhancement for U.S. Army aviation, providing extended reach, greater operational flexibility, and improved survivability. The gradual introduction of this system underscores the growing importance of long-range precision weapons in modern conflict scenarios. In an increasingly contested operational environment, where air superiority cannot be assumed, having a missile capable of striking targets beyond the reach of enemy defenses represents a critical advantage on the battlefield.
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On 26 February 2025, the U.S. Army deployed the Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missile on its AH-64E Version 6 attack helicopters, significantly enhancing their long-range strike capabilities. High-resolution images confirmed the presence of these advanced guided missiles during Allied Spirit exercises in Germany, where they have been tested in a multinational operational environment. The integration of the Spike NLOS on the AH-64E represents a key development in the Army’s long-range engagement capabilities, enabling it to engage targets well beyond the front lines while reducing exposure to enemy defenses.
The integration of the Spike NLOS into Apache helicopters under the Interim Long-Range Precision Munition (I-LRPM) program provides attack units with long-range precision strike capabilities as an interim solution pending the development of next-generation strategic munitions. (Picture source: US DoD)
The Spike NLOS introduces a significant range and firepower advantage, extending the Apache’s strike capability to 32 kilometers. This is four times the range of the AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), which have traditionally been the primary air-to-ground munitions for U.S. attack helicopters. This increased range allows for the engagement of strategic targets beyond the reach of enemy air defense systems. It enhances effectiveness in contested environments where radar-guided and infrared-tracking surface-to-air missile threats are prevalent.
The Spike NLOS is a fifth-generation guided missile designed for beyond-line-of-sight (NLOS) engagement. Its architecture enables deployment from multiple platforms, including ground vehicles, naval vessels, and aircraft, providing operational flexibility. Equipped with a high-resolution multispectral seeker and a real-time bidirectional data link, it allows the operator to adjust the target in flight or abort the mission if necessary. These features improve precision and reduce the risk of collateral damage, ensuring adaptability in dynamic battlefield conditions.
The Spike NLOS weapon system incorporates a multi-purpose warhead capable of engaging armored vehicles, enemy infrastructure, naval assets, and personnel in both urban and open battlefield environments. This versatility makes it an effective tool for neutralizing a wide range of threats, from armored formations to high-value command centers. A key advantage is its independence from GPS, allowing effective operation even in environments where electronic warfare and jamming disrupt satellite-based navigation. Additionally, its low radar and thermal signature minimizes the risk of detection and interception, increasing the survivability of the platforms deploying it.
The integration of the Spike NLOS into Apache helicopters is part of the Interim Long-Range Precision Munition (I-LRPM) program, an initiative aimed at equipping attack units with long-range precision strike capabilities while awaiting the development of next-generation strategic munitions. The decision to adopt this system was made in 2020, followed by extensive evaluation and testing phases on earlier Apache variants. By 2024, it had achieved full certification on the AH-64E Version 6, confirming compatibility with the aircraft’s sensor and targeting systems.
The Spike NLOS’s operational deployment began in August 2023. It initially equipped three attack units: the 1-229th Attack Battalion, the 2-17th Air Cavalry Squadron, and the 1-3rd Attack Battalion, which is currently engaged in multinational exercises in Europe. These deployments contribute to NATO interoperability efforts, ensuring integration within joint operations and enhancing long-range strike capabilities. This strategic deployment is designed to strengthen U.S. and allied forces’ ability to conduct precision engagements while minimizing exposure to hostile countermeasures.
The incorporation of the Spike NLOS into the Apache AH-64E represents a major enhancement for U.S. Army aviation, providing extended reach, greater operational flexibility, and improved survivability. The gradual introduction of this system underscores the growing importance of long-range precision weapons in modern conflict scenarios. In an increasingly contested operational environment, where air superiority cannot be assumed, having a missile capable of striking targets beyond the reach of enemy defenses represents a critical advantage on the battlefield.
