The rising demand from allied nations is keeping Israel’s production lines running and driving further innovation.

By Yakkov Lappin, JNS

Germany recently finalized a major deal to procure advanced Spike anti-tank missiles made by Israeli defense company Rafael, in a move that Washington, D.C.-based defense analysts say highlights a continental trend of European nations urgently arming themselves with combat-proven Israeli technology as they prepare for a potential conflict with a resurgent Russia.

According to a report in the Hebrew-daily Calcalist on Oct. 21, the Spike missile deal is valued at approximately 2 billion euros.

The missiles are reportedly intended for German infantry and armored infantry units, replacing older systems and filling capability gaps exposed by the war in Ukraine.

The deal will be implemented through EuroSpike, a joint venture owned by Rafael and German defense firms Rheinmetall and Diehl Defense.

This procurement is the latest in a series of major purchases of Israeli arms by European nations, who are in a race to rebuild their own defense industrial bases and build capabilities, as they also continue to supply Ukraine with arms.

Bradley Bowman, senior director at the Center on Military and Political Power at the Washington, D.C.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told JNS that these major export agreements are also a critical component of Israel’s own national security strategy.

“As with the United States, defense exports can help Israel further strengthen its defense production capacity, supply network, and innovation enterprise so that they are world class, can be maintained when domestic demand declines once stockpiles are filled, and still there when domestic demand returns,” said Bowman, who served as a national security adviser to members of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees.

The growing demand from allied nations ensures that Israel’s production lines remain open, that the supply network is stress-tested and that companies like Rafael, Elbit and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) are constantly innovating.

Israel has also massively increased its own domestic arms production to avoid over-dependence on external suppliers, particularly the United States.

In February, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that it had invested over 150 billion shekels ($46.4 billion) through domestic “blue and white procurement,” adding that this significantly strengthened the country’s “defense industrial base” and reduced “external dependencies.”

Ryan Brobst, deputy director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the FDD, told JNS that the German deal is part of a clear and growing trend since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and that the specific weapon system chosen is highly significant.

“Following Putin’s 2022 re-invasion of Ukraine, many European countries, including the United Kingdom, Czechia, Finland, Poland, Denmark and Estonia, increased their arms purchases from Israel, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute,” said Brobst.

“Germany’s decision to purchase the Spike missile is noteworthy as it has greater range than many other anti-tank missiles—an important feature when small drones have pushed many weapons systems back from the frontlines. As Europe works to bolster its defenses, purchasing weapons systems from likeminded allies and partners is a wise interim step as the continent works to build up its own defense industrial base,” he added.

The Spike is a family of electro-optical (camera-guided) missiles. According to Rafael, the system is a “fire-and-forget” multi-purpose missile with a high-hit probability against stationary and moving targets.

Key variants include the Spike LR2, with a range of 5.5 km, and the Spike ER2, which can strike targets up to 16 km away. The Spike family is used in 45 nations around the world.

On June 4, the Israel Defense Ministry announced that the country had set a new all-time record for defense exports in 2024, reaching a total of over $14.7 billion. This was the fourth consecutive record-breaking year for Israeli defense exports.

The 2024 data reveals a dramatic shift in demand, with missile, rocket and air defense systems accounting for 48% of all sales.

Europe formed the largest market for Israeli defense export customers, accounting for 54% of all Israeli defense exports, a massive increase from 35% in 2023.

In November 2023, Germany and Israel signed a historic $3.5 billion agreement for the Arrow 3 missile defense system. This remains Israel’s largest-ever defense deal.

The system, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), intercepts ballistic missiles in space, and was a critical factor in Israel’s victory against Iran in June 2025, when Tehran fired heavy volleys of missiles at Israeli cities and strategic sites.

Germany is not alone in its search for advanced Israeli air defense. In 2023, Rafael’s David’s Sling system was approved for sale to Finland.

The deal, valued at approximately 317 million euros, provides Finland with one of the world’s most advanced systems for intercepting threats ranging from cruise missiles and drones to advanced ballistic missiles.

Russia, for its part, has spent decades exporting arms to Middle Eastern countries other than Israel, and was the sole supplier for Iran between 2020 to 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Iran has become a critical supplier of drone and missile capabilities to Russia for use against Ukraine.

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Its modular design allows for seamless integration into a wide array of platforms, reducing logistical complexity and training time.

By Hezy Laing, World Israel News

Rafael’s Spike missile system has emerged as the most dominant and widely adopted anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) platform in the world.

Developed in Israel, the Spike family now serves in over 40 countries, including more than 20 NATO members, making it a global benchmark for precision strike capability.

Its versatility across infantry, vehicle, helicopter, and naval platforms has positioned it as a preferred choice for modern militaries seeking adaptable and reliable firepower.

Unlike older wire-guided systems, Spike offers advanced electro-optical guidance, fire-and-forget capability, and man-in-the-loop control, allowing operators to adjust targeting mid-flight.

Rafael has continuously evolved the system, with the sixth-generation Spike NLOS variant capable of striking targets up to 25 kilometers away—far beyond the reach of most competitors.

This long-range precision, combined with real-time video feedback and multi-target engagement, gives Spike a tactical edge in both open terrain and urban warfare.

In combat scenarios, Spike has proven its effectiveness repeatedly.

It has been deployed in conflicts ranging from Lebanon and Gaza to Afghanistan and Nagorno-Karabakh, where its pinpoint accuracy and lethality against armored vehicles and fortified positions have been well documented.

Its modular design allows for seamless integration into a wide array of platforms, reducing logistical complexity and training time.

Spike’s popularity is not just a result of its performance but also adaptability. Nations seeking to modernize their ground forces have increasingly turned to Spike as a future-proof solution, capable of evolving with emerging threats and battlefield demands.

As warfare continues to shift toward precision and multi-domain integration, Rafael’s Spike system remains at the forefront, redefining what anti-tank missiles can achieve in the 21st century.

Other leading anti-tank missiles include the American FGM-148 Javelin, which has seen widespread use Ukraine, where it gained status for its effectiveness against Russian armor.

While Javelin is known for its top-attack profile and portability, Spike’s extended range, dual seeker modes, and networked targeting capabilities offer a broader operational envelope.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Kornet EM, known for its laser guidance and armor-piercing capabilities, remains a dominant force in Middle Eastern and Eurasian arsenals.

Additional emerging systems like Germany’s MILAN, Turkey’s Karaok, and South Korea’s AT-1K Raybolt, are gaining traction, but haven’t yet reached global deployment.

With an incredible 50,000 missiles sold to date, the Israeli made Spike is far and away the world’s most popular and internationally adopted anti-tank missile.

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Vital information regarding the Hamas chief’s whereabouts was reportedly supplied by one of his bodyguards.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The missile that hit the residence where Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was staying in Tehran, killing him, was a short-range one fired from inside the country, Sky News Arabia reported Wednesday.

Basing its report on Iranian sources, the media outlet said that a Spike missile was fired from a building close by.

The Spike family of missiles are produced by Israeli elite defense company Rafael. The shortest-range types have an effective range between 200 meters to 5.5 kilometers, so the one allegedly involved did not necessarily have to be fired so near the residence.

They contain high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, which would seemingly accord with the picture of the blackened exterior area of the targeted corner room where the terrorist leader was sleeping.

Other ground-based Spikes have a range of up to 32 km, which would still mean that they had to be launched from within Iran.

Their technology is such that they do not need to be in line of sight of their targets.

Some media are citing “unconfirmed reports” that the airborne projectile was a quadcopter, which actually would have to be launched from just a short distance from Haniyeh’s residence.

It is unclear whether these kinds of small drones would be able to carry enough explosives to do the damage seen on photos of the attack site.

The Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese Al-Mayadeen TV channel cited an Iranian source saying that the weapon was launched from over the border.

Tehran has so far not ruled out any possibility, including long-range missiles, as authorities immediately launched an intensive investigation to find out how their defenses were breached.

The theory that it was at least in part an “inside job” has already been reported in Iranian media, which said that one of Haniyeh’s personal bodyguards leaked vital information that enabled the targeted killing.

It was such a precise operation that another high-value terrorist, Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief Ziyad al-Nakhalah, was left untouched although he was in the same building, on a different floor.

Iranian officials told The New York Times that the senior echelon in the country were in “utter shock” over the successful assassination.

The funeral for the Hamas leader took place Thursday morning in Tehran. Supreme Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei led the prayers for the thousands of attendees.

President Masoud Pezeshkian whose inauguration was the reason for Haniyeh’s presence in Tehran, was right beside him.

On Friday, Haniyeh will be buried in the Qatari capital of Doha, where he had lived in luxurious conditions for many years while in “exile” from the Gaza Strip.

Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the assassination, although it was immediately blamed by Iran, Hamas, and their supporters, and Iran has vowed to avenge their honored guest’s death.

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The entire SPIKE Family is used by 34 nations, with more than 33,000 rounds produced and supplied.

By World Israel News Staff

In a recent series of tests in the Negev Desert, the Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. showed off its upgraded SPIKE SR (short range) anti-tank missile’s lethal capabilities by blowing up a number of targets from long distances.

SPIKE SR is an electro-optical guided High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead designed for shoulder launch by infantry and is the smallest and lightest variant of the SPIKE Missile family, weighing only 10kg. The older version had a range of 50-1,500 meters, but the upgraded version was successful in hitting targets located approximately 2,000 meters away.

“We are very proud of this small missile, which proved to be as lethal as other large caliber missiles, with great agility for the warfighter due to its lightweight, as well as its ability to act rapidly within six seconds from cold start, engaging fast-moving targets, highly-demanded capabilities in today’s warfare,” said Mr. Gal Papier, director of marketing and business development at Rafael’s Precision Tactical Weapon Systems directorate.

In addition to the SPIKE SR, the other missiles in the SPIKE Family include the SPIKE NLOS (Non-Line Of Sight), SPIKE ER (Extended Range), SPIKE MR (Medium Range), and Spike LR (Long Range).

According to company data, the entire SPIKE Family is used by 34 nations, with more than 33,000 rounds produced and supplied and as many as 45 different platforms integrated, including attack helicopters, ground vehicles, and marine vessels.

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Netanyahu announced that India’s purchase of an Israeli-made weapon, initially canceled in favor of a domestically developed product, was “back on track.” 

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that India’s purchase of Israeli-made Spike anti-tank rockets was “back on track.”

“This is very important, and there will be many more deals,” Netanyahu, currently on a state visit to India to deepen ties and develop business, said.

“I am proud to be an Israeli and I am proud to be Prime Minister of Israel,” Netanyahu stated, following talks with his “friend,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We are moved by the amazing welcome we have received from the prime minister and citizens of India. It warms the heart to see tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of people, including children, standing in the streets and applauding the State of Israel.”

India’s Defense Ministry initially cancelled a $500 million deal to acquire Spike anti-tank missiles, developed by the Israeli Refael arms manufacturer, in favor of India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), which is developing and producing a similar weapon.

India had decided to acquire an Israeli-made anti-tank rocket, picking it over the US-made Javelin, in October 2014.

The “Spike,” known as the “Gil” in Hebrew, is a fire-and-forget, long-range anti-tank rocket with a guidance system which locks on its target before launching. The Spike  has medium, long and extended range versions and has been sold to 26 countries worldwide.

Israel and India enjoy the sharing of technological developments, and India is one of Israel’s biggest clients in the defense technology market. Israel’s military delegation to India is second in size only to its delegation to America.

The deal was described as a major milestone in Israeli-Indian relations.

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Announcement of $500 million India-Israel missile deal comes just days ahead of Netanyahu’s trip to India, where focus will be on boosting trade ties between the two countries.

By: Margot Dudkevitch

India intends to purchase 8,000 Spike anti-tank missiles from Israel to the tune of $500 million, reports out of India stated. News of the deal was announced ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming trip to the country and after New Delhi recently said it was cancelling the missile deal with Israel in favor of a local brand.

The Hindustan Times said the purchase would be conducted via the “government to government route,” as the Indian Army is keen on acquiring the missile from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense System and the country’s Defense Research and Development Organization has no objection to the deal. The newspaper noted that India also plans to purchase torpedoes for its submarines as well as assault rifles from Israel.

At a briefing in Jerusalem on Wednesday to discuss Netanyahu’s trip to India, Gilad Cohen, the Foreign Ministry’s deputy director general for Asia and Pacific, refused to comment on the weapons deal between the two countries. India is Israel’s largest weapons market, and according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Jewish state sold $599 million worth of arms to India in 2016.

Non-military trade between the two countries in 2016 reached $4.2 billion. During Netanyahu’s visit to the country next week, meetings between Israeli and Indian officials are expected to focus on ways to increase cooperation in areas of tourism, agriculture and innovation.

Netanyahu disappointed in India’s UN vote

Speaking to a gathering of foreign journalists on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu said he was disappointed that India voted in favor of the resolution at the UN General Assembly condemning the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  Answering a question from an Indian journalist, Netanyahu said, “We would have preferred another vote, to be frank.”  The prime minister went on to say, “I don’t think the vote materially changes the recent flowering of relations between Israel and India, and everybody can see that.”

Netanyahu said that last July’s visit to Israel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “a very important milestone, and my visit will see an expansion of economic and other ties.”  Over time, he continued, he is expecting a change in India’s voting on issues relating to Israel at international forums.

Netanyahu told the journalists that Israel has been deepening ties with countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. “Ultimately. we would like to see improved ties translate to support in  international forums,” he said,  conceding that it “takes some time for improved relations to be expressed on the international front.”

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India reportedly cancelled a deal to acquire an Israeli-made anti-tank weapon in favor of a domestically-developed product. 

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

India’s Defense Ministry has reportedly cancelled a multi-million dollar deal to acquire “Spike” anti-tank missiles developed by the Israeli Refael arms manufacturer.  Refael is denying  the report, insisting that it had not been “officially informed of any changes” and that plans are on track as scheduled.

The Indian Express reported on Monday that India cancelled the $500 million deal with  Rafael in favor of India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), which is indigenously developing and producing a similar weapon.

The Express quoted Indian sources who explained that the decision to cancel the deal was based on the consideration that importing a foreign product would adversely impact the local weapons industry.

India had yet to sign the deal with Refael, but the two sides were reportedly at the final stages of negotiations.

The   decision to retract the deal could be a setback to the modernization of the Indian army. The army had argued that the Spike “gives a major capability impetus to troops deployed on the ‘Line of Control,’ especially in the current operational scenario.”

India decided to acquire an Israeli-made anti-tank rocket, picking it over the US-made Javelin, in October 2014.

The “Spike,” known as the “Gil” in Hebrew, is a fire-and-forget long-range anti-tank rocket with a guidance system which locks on its target before launching. The Spike  has medium, long and extended range versions and has been sold to 26 countries worldwide.

Israel and India enjoy the sharing of technological developments, and India is one of Israel’s biggest clients in the defense technology market. Israel’s military delegation to India is second in size only to its delegation to America.

The deal was described as a major milestone in Israeli-Indian relations.

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