Spain Secures Spike

February 2, 2008: Spain is buying 200 Spike air-to-ground missiles from an American company (General Dynamics), which subcontracts the manufacture of the missiles to an Israeli company (Rafael), which developed the weapon. Also being purchased are 44 launch racks, that will be fitted to Spanish Tiger helicopter gunships. Each helicopter normally carried eight Spike missiles (in two launcher racks, each weighing 400 pounds, including four 77 pound missiles.) The Spike ER missile has a range of 8 kilometers and is "fire and forget." It's similar to the U.S. Hellfire missile. The entire purchase, including training and technical assistance, is worth $64 million.