German defense giant Diehl Defense, along with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and EuroSpike GmbH, carried out firing tests of the Spike LR guided missile from the Ziesel unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), marking the first time that the missile has been successfully fired from an unmanned platform.
A total of 17 guided missiles were successfully fired from the UGV over a period of five days. Diehl noted that it had “demonstrated impressive performance and withstood the stress of the operation.”
According to Diehl, the tests occurred just three months after the Ziesel with the Spike launcher was shown to the public at Enforce Tac 2025 in Nürnberg.
Last month, the Bundeswehr adopted a military strategy to prepare Germany for future threats and turn the military into Europe’s strongest conventional army with some 460,000 soldiers by the mid-2030s and around 200,000 soldiers in the reserves. Along with the increase of troops, Germany aims to transform the Bundeswehr into a military that revolves around technology and innovative capabilities by 2039.
UGVs have become one of the most consequential technologies in modern warfare. Once limited to bomb disposal and remote reconnaissance, UGVs now support frontline combat, logistics, electronic warfare, and casualty evacuation across multiple conflict zones. Their rapid evolution is transforming how militaries fight, supply, and survive on increasingly lethal and electronically contested battlefields.
The Ziesel UGV is a compact tracked platform (1.6 meters long, 1.3 meters wide) that can reach speeds up to 20 kph and can be used for logistics, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and reconnaissance. The platform is equipped with 11 kWh lithium-ion batteries and operates completely electrically.
Integrated onto the platform is Diehl Defense’s PLATON autonomy kit that allows for fully autonomous navigation and mission execution. With the Spike launcher integrated into the platform, it can directly participate in combat operations.
The ability of the Ziesel to enter complex battlefields might have a significant impact on anti-tank warfare, by striking armored formations from afar and without any danger to warfighters.
Diehl said that the platform is currently being tested by several armed forces, including Germany and Ukraine.
Pinpoint precision in various ranges
Rafael has three missiles in the SPIKE family: SPIKE NLOS (non-line of sight), SPIKE ER (extended range), SPIKE MR/LR (medium/long-range), and SPIKE SR (short range). They provide pinpoint precision at extended ranges, including against non-line-of-sight targets. Operable in both offensive and defensive scenarios, it provides real-time tactical intelligence and damage assessments, allowing it to be adjusted to targets and abort missions in mid-flight.
The Spike has been sold in various versions to 45 countries worldwide, including 20 NATO forces. The munition has been produced, supplied, and integrated onto as many as 45 different platforms, including 10 types of helicopters, ground vehicles, marine vessels, and more.
The IDF also has thousands of SPIKE missiles, including specially customized SPIKE SR rocket launchers for its infantry forces that have a reduced weight of 40 percent to provide greater flexibility to troops in the field during land maneuvers. It’s also in use by the Israel Airforce and Navy.