Loitering ammunition Rafael Spike Firefly (Israel)
Loitering ammunition Spike Firefly in take-off position
Currently, the Israel Defense Forces are actively fighting and use almost the entire range of weapons and equipment available to them, including the latest models. In particular, the recently adopted Spike Firefly loitering munition is used for reconnaissance and target destruction. Not long ago, the first materials showing its use in combat became publicly available.
"Firefly" for the army
The Spike Firefly loitering munition (AM) was developed by the Israeli company Rafael by order of the Israeli military department. The project was created at the end of the last decade, and at the same time it was officially presented to potential customers. By this time, the new drone was tested and confirmed its main characteristics.
In May 2020, the IDF became the first customer of the new BB. A contract was signed for mass production and supply of such products, but its details were not disclosed for security reasons. The Firefly product entered service with the Israeli army under the name "Maoz".
Subsequently, serial "Fireflies" were repeatedly used in various IDF exercises. Issues of using such equipment to solve both main tasks - reconnaissance and destruction of ground targets were worked out. As can be judged by subsequent events, the Israeli military coped with the development of the new warhead.
Spike Firefly has attracted the attention of potential customers from abroad. Thus, almost two years ago, the experimental exercise Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment 2022 took place in the United States, during which a number of promising developments by American and foreign enterprises, including the Israeli warhead, were tested. "Fireflies" were used in their intended role - with their help, infantry units conducted reconnaissance and, if necessary, attacked the enemy. In general, the United States highly appreciated foreign development, but has not yet expressed a desire to purchase it. Perhaps the situation will change yet.
Real application
As far as we know, until recently, Spike Firefly UAVs/BBs were used only in training grounds. However, the IDF could have used them in real operations, but not reported it. Not long ago, the first information appeared about the involvement of such equipment in ongoing events, and evidence of its presence in the combat zone was also published.
In mid-September, the IDF announced that it had carried out another operation to detect and destroy the enemy in the city of Jenin (West Bank). It was alleged that additional reconnaissance and destruction of the target were carried out by Maoz loitering ammunition. This was the first officially disclosed case of such a technique being used for a real purpose.
Since the October 7 attack, the Israeli army has been conducting full-scale military operations in the Palestinian territories and using a wide range of equipment and weapons in them. Recently, the first videos showing the use of Firefly products appeared on foreign resources. The footage captured a flight of such products, probably for the purpose of reconnaissance. The moments of attack and destruction of targets have not yet been demonstrated.
"Maoz" in a container
So far, only two such videos are known, but this does not indicate the limited use of “Maozov”. It is likely that the bulk of BB flights, for obvious reasons, do not receive wide coverage. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that Israeli BB crews stop such filming, and Palestinian “operators” immediately become targets for strikes.
It is obvious that the Fireflies will continue to be used, both before the end of active hostilities and after it. Simple and inexpensive new types of warheads should become widespread among the troops and will be used en masse. With their help, small units will be able to improve their situational awareness and be able to hit targets at a distance from their positions.
Miniature helicopter
Rafael's Spike Firefly is a lightweight, compact, man-portable drone. aviation reconnaissance and strike system. The entire system with three ammunition and a control panel weighs only 15 kg and can be carried by one operator.
As the name suggests, the Firefly is part of the Spike family of guided weapons. Previously, this included only anti-tank missile systems of several types, but now they are supplemented drone-kamikaze. The inclusion of such a warhead in the same family with ATGMs is explained by the use of unified solutions and components.
Product Scheme
Firefly is a helicopter-based UAV/BB and has a distinctive appearance. The device is built in an oblong rectangular body with a vertical orientation. On top of it is a coaxial propeller group, and the main part of the internal volume is occupied by a replaceable battery and a warhead module. At the bottom there is a suspension with a compact optical-electronic system. For takeoff and landing, a landing gear in the form of three legs is used.
The device has a height of 400 mm and a cross-section of the body of 80x80 mm. The blades of the supporting system are foldable. Starting weight, regardless of configuration, is 3 kg. To transport the product, a container with a multifaceted cross-section is used.
The Maoza supporting system is built according to a twin-screw coaxial design. Two compact electric motors of sufficient power are placed inside the sleeve. The top propeller has a full swashplate for maneuvering. In horizontal flight and maneuvering, the BB is capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h. The standard battery allows you to stay in the air for 15 minutes. To conduct reconnaissance, a second battery can be installed on the device instead of the warhead, doubling the flight time.
The target is hit by a high-explosive fragmentation warhead with fragments scattered in all directions. It has limited mass and power, but at the same time reduces the risk of collateral damage.
American operator with the Firefly remote control, 2022.
The operator controls the drone using a lightweight and compact tablet computer. Via a secure radio channel, it receives a video signal from the device and transmits commands to it. Standard communications equipment provides a combat radius of up to 1500 m in open areas and up to 500 m in urban areas.
For widespread implementation
At one time, it was the Israeli industry that first proposed and implemented the modern concept of loitering ammunition. Subsequently, this direction was actively developed, and new models of this kind regularly appeared and reached operation. The next Israeli-developed BB brought into operation in the IDF was the Spike Firefly from Rafael several years ago.
This project was based on the idea of creating a lightweight and compact UAV / BB suitable for widespread use in the army. An unmanned system of this kind does not require special measures and can be transported and used by just one operator. At the same time, the unit receives new capabilities in the field of reconnaissance and destruction of remote targets.
According to known data, the IDF began introducing Fireflies into the ammunition load of infantry units several years ago, as well as using them at training grounds. A few months ago, real combat use became known for the first time, and now it is only expanding. It seems that the Israeli military has fully mastered the new warhead and has also found the best options for its use.
During ongoing combat operations on a sufficiently large scale and intensity, the IDF must once again try and test all the unmanned aircraft developed in recent years. Based on the results of such checks, they will be improved and improved. In addition, we can expect that Israeli industry will use the current fighting to advertise its products. And in this case, Spike Firefly, which has already attracted the attention of foreign customers, has every chance of becoming the subject of an export contract.
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