Indian Air Force receives Israel’s Spike Non Line of Sight Missiles

Current Context: Israeli Spike Non Line of Sight (NLOS) anti-tank guided missiles. These are advanced weapons that can hit targets from long distances and are especially useful in mountainous terrain.

• They are developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.They are fire-and-forget missiles with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance.
• They have a tandem-charge high-explosive warhead that can penetrate armor and destroy personnel.They can be launched from man-portable, vehicle-mounted, or helicopter-mounted platforms.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has recently acquired these missiles from Israel and plans to integrate them with the Russian-origin Mi-17V5 helicopters.
• This will enhance the IAF’s ability to engage hidden targets behind mountains or hills, especially in the context of the border tensions with China. The IAF also aims to increase its arsenal through indigenous production and foreign acquisitions to address security threats.

Question:

Q.1 Which company developed and designed the Spike NLOS missiles?
a. Lockheed Martin
b. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
c. Raytheon
d. BAE Systems