Together with RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems and EuroSpike GmbH, firing tests with the SPIKE LR guided missile were carried out for the first time in order to test the load bearing capacity of the Ziesel platform in terms of structure and under live firing conditions. With this series of firings, the Diehl Defence UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) Ziesel is the first system from which a modern guided missile was fired successfully. This milestone was reached just three months after the first presentation of the Diehl Defence UGV Ziesel with the SPIKE launcher set-up at Enforce Tac 2025 in Nürnberg. Unmanned ground-based systems are currently attracting great attention. This also increases the demand for versatile payload options, in particular to keep soldiers out of dangerous situations for as long as possible. The tests were carried out over five days. A total of 17 guided missiles were successfully fired. The platform demonstrated impressive performance and withstood the stress of the operation. SPIKE LR is an intercept missile against armored targets. Thanks to ultra-modern and all-weather-capable optronic sensors, the missiles hit with maximum precision and penetrating power.
The Diehl Defence UGV used is a revised platform that has undergone improvements in terms of both hardware and software compared to its predecessors. Ziesel has already been tested in numerous variants in the field, including a logistical variant, for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and now for the first time as an effector carrier. The Ziesel is complemented by the PLATON autonomy kit by Diehl Defence, which turns the UGV into a fully autonomous system. The Diehl Defence UGV Ziesel is currently being tested by several armed forces, including Germany and Ukraine. After the firing tests were completed, the companies involved emphasized their shared will to make rapid progress on the next milestones and to further develop the concept. In addition, a demonstration is planned for representatives of various armed forces to showcase the innovative power and potential of the Diehl Defense UGV Ziesel in combination with SPIKE LR.
The Diehl Defence UGV is based on the Ziesel platform from Mattro. With its small dimensions of 1.6 x 1.3 m (LxW), its low dead weight of 380 kg and a maximum payload of more than 500 kg, this vehicle is the perfect infantry support when it comes to transportation of heavy equipment in the terrain. Due to its high maneuverability, the UGV can accompany soldiers through a dense wooded area without impeding them. Equipped with exchangeable 11 kWh lithium-ion batteries, Ziesel operates completely electrically, attracts no attention by loud running or engine noises and is able to reach a speed of up to 20 km/h. The autonomous capabilities of the UGV are realized by the autonomy kit PLATON which is developed by Diehl Defence. The ground vehicle in the follow-me-mode operates without active sensors, such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and GPS, which could be easily detected or jammed by the enemy.
Spike is an Israeli fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile and anti-personnel missile with a tandem-charge high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead. As of 2024, it is in its sixth generation. It was developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Long range version (Israeli designation: NT-Spike). The weight of the missile is 14 kg (31 lb), and the weight of the complete system is less than 45 kg (99 lb). Maximum range is 4,000 m (2.5 mi) and it is used by infantry and light combat vehicles. It adds fiber-optic communication to and from the operator during flight. Reported armour penetration capability is more than 700 mm (28 in) of Rolled homogeneous armour (RHA). It is also deployed in Sentry Tech remotely controlled weapons stations along the Gaza border. In early 2014, Rafael revealed they had increased the range of the Spike LR to 5.5 km (3.4 mi), enhancing versatility on existing firing platforms and allowing it to be utilized on new ones like light helicopters.
