The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has awarded a contract to Rafael Australia to acquire and undisclosed number of Spike LR II anti‐tank guided missiles (ATGMs) for the Australian Army’s Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs).
The company announced on 22 August that the acquisition constitutes part of Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise, which aims to enhance the lethality of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with next-generation guided weapons.
“This acquisition will support the Boxer CRV capability being delivered [to the Australian Army] under Project Land 400 Phase 2,” said Rafael, noting that the contract represents the ADF’s first procurement as part of the GWEO Enterprise.
According to company specifications, the Spike LR II is a fifth‐generation portable fire‐and‐forget ATGM system. The missile weighs 12.7 kg and is capable of engaging threats out to a range of 5.5 km, and can be armed with two types of warheads.
The first is the multi‐purpose blast warhead which is designed to engage structures, soft‐skinned vehicles, and personnel in open terrain. The second is the tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead which features a secondary impact‐delayed fuze setting enabling it to penetrate a target before detonating for greater effects.
The Australian Army is acquiring 211 Boxers from Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) under a US$5.2 billion contract signed in 2018 under the DoD’s Project Land 400 Phase 2.
The Australian DoD also announced it has commenced manufacturing of 155 mm ammunition and 81 mm mortars as part of the GWEO Enterprise.
Canberra has committed up to US$1.6 billion to fund the GWEO Enterprise over the next four years, which would enable the initiative to establish guided weapons research and development, testing, manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance capabilities in Australia.
Raytheon Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia were earlier selected as initial GWEO strategic partners.
by Jr Ng
