Tel Aviv: The Rafael Spike anti-tank missiles will be manufactured in India for the country’s defence forces.
Israel company Rafael and Indian company Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) have signed a Technical Collaboration Agreement (TCA) to formalise plans for the local production of the Israeli company’s Spike LR2, a 5th-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM).
This collaboration builds upon a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which laid the groundwork for the strategic partnership between BDL and Rafael.
The TCA is poised to enable a significant transfer of manufacturing capabilities and critical technologies, aligning with the Government of India’s “Make in India” initiative and meeting the Ministry of Defence’s Indigenous Content (IC) requirements.
In addition to the LR2, Rafael and BDL are reaffirming their cooperation on the SPIKE ER2. The companies are working together to establish a robust production framework for this next-generation missile, aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces’ helicopter fleets.
Yoav Tourgeman, CEO of Rafael said that the collaboration on the Spike LR2 represents the deep strategic alignment between Rafael and BDL, built on mutual trust and a shared vision.
“The local production of the Spike LR2 will not only enhance the Indian Army’s operational capabilities but also underscores our commitment to supporting India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. With BDL’s exceptional production capabilities and Rafael’s technological edge, we are confident in the long-term potential of this cooperation to strengthen India’s defence and industry,,” Yoav Tourgeman said.
Commodore A. Madhavarao (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BDLsaid that the agreement , is another milestone in our efforts to deliver innovative defence solutions and expand our missile production portfolio.
“This partnership is designed to enhance the operational readiness of the Indian Armed Forces while reinforcing India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing. We look forward to an enduring and fruitful relationship with Rafael,” BDL Chairman said.
The Spike family of missiles includes the following variants – SR with a range of 2 km, LR2 with a range of 5.5 km , ER 2 with a range of 10 km and the NLOS with a range of 30 km.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
