The U.S. Army has successfully conducted a live-fire trial of the SPIKE NLOS precision-guided missile from an AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter at Poland’s Central Air Force Training Range. The demonstration, carried out in partnership with the Polish Armed Forces and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, showcased a new long-range strike capability for NATO’s combat aviation.
The exercise was led by the U.S. Army’s 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, based in Ansbach, Germany, which deployed several Apaches to Poland for the evaluation. Senior officials from the Polish Ministry of Defence, Air Force Inspectorate, and observers from over ten NATO allies attended the event, underscoring allied interest in the SPIKE NLOS system.
During the test, two SPIKE NLOS missiles were launched against maritime targets in the Baltic Sea, both scoring direct hits from a standoff distance of 26 kilometers. The demonstration highlighted seamless integration between U.S. rotary platforms and Israeli precision munitions, marking a leap in beyond-line-of-sight engagement capabilities.
The SPIKE NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) missile is the longest-range member of Rafael’s missile family, reaching up to 32 km from helicopters. Equipped with electro-optical seekers, real-time video data links, and man-in-the-loop control, it allows operators to adjust strikes in flight for maximum precision, even against mobile or concealed targets. Mounted on the Apache, it extends the aircraft’s striking range far beyond that of legacy Hellfire missiles.
The AH-64E Apache Guardian, the U.S. Army’s latest attack helicopter variant, features upgraded engines, advanced avionics, UAV connectivity, and enhanced survivability. The addition of SPIKE NLOS significantly increases its lethality in both land and maritime operations.
Polish officials praised the trial as directly relevant to Poland’s own AH-64E acquisition program, following the 2023 deal to purchase 96 Apache Guardians, one of NATO’s largest attack helicopter procurements. The SPIKE NLOS is now considered a strong candidate for integration into Poland’s future fleet.
This event capped more than a year of trilateral planning between the U.S., Poland, and Rafael. The system’s successful integration highlights not only a powerful new weapon pairing but also the strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank, ensuring allied forces retain long-range precision strike capabilities against modern threats.
