The German Army has ordered 1,500 rounds of Rafael's SPIKE (also known as MELLS in Germany) missiles and launchers. A multi-year framework contract for the supply of the SPIKE rounds to the German Army was signed by representatives from Eurospike, which is a joint venture between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Diehl Defence and Rheinmetall Electronics at the beginning of November at Germany Ministry of Defence offices in in Koblenz .

The missiles and launchers will be manufactured in Germany by local German companies, in keeping with Rafael's global policy of teaming up with domestic industry, resulting in knowledge transfer and local job creation.

As part of the  framework contract, the first order is for the supply of 1,500 SPIKE rounds, as well as hundreds of RAFAEL’S new  Integrated Control Launch Unit dismounted missile launchers. 

The multi-year framework contract will allow the Bundeswehr to continue procuring additional SPIKE missiles in the next few years to reach its goal of high launcher-to-missile ratio.

The German Army already uses the dismounted portable SPIKE (MELLS) launcher as well the vehicle-mounted launcher on the German army Puma, Marder & Wiesel vehicles.

SPIKE is a cutting-edge precise, multi-platform, multi-mission and multi-range electro-optical missile family, with capabilities of fire-and-forget, as well as fire, observe and update, allowing attack of hidden targets. 

With 33 SPIKE missile users around the world, Germany is among 19 other SPIKE users in the EU and NATO. More than 30,000 SPIKE missiles have been supplied worldwide to-date, with over 5,500 SPIKE missile firings, both in training and in combat.

"This is a significant contract for Eurospike and thus for Rafael, as a leading supplier of fifth-generation ATGM in the world," stated Moshe Elazar, executive vice president and head of RAFAEL’s Land and Naval Division. "It will undoubtedly cement the German Army’s position as one of the strongest ATGM forces in Europe. The SPIKE missile and launcher cross-nation commonality enables the nations to manage joint SPIKE missile stocks, create joint procurement and maintain mutual support. In combination with local production within Europe by Eurospike, SPIKE is a truly common European missile."