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At a glance
Measured figures
with probe extended (some variants have no probe)
Single sourcewith probe folded
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | BGM-71 TOW | Spike (missile) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Anti-tank missile[source] | Anti-tank guided missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | Israel[source] |
| In service | 1970–present[source] | 1981–present (Spike NLOS) 1997–present[source] |
| Used by | See Operators[source] | See Operators (41 countries ordered it ) |
1.16–1.17 m with probe folded 1.41–1.51 m with probe extended (some variants have no probe)[source]
Spike ER
Single sourceSpike MR/LR
Single sourceSpike MR/LR : 1,200 mm (3 ft 11 in) Spike ER : 1,670 mm (5 ft 6 in)[source]
TOW 2B Aero · encased · Mass
Single sourceTOW 2B Aero · missile, unencased · Mass
Single sourceTOW Bunker Buster · missile · Mass
Single source49.8 pounds[source]TOW 2B Aero · missile, unencased
65 pounds[source]TOW 2B Aero · encased
45.2 pounds[source]TOW Bunker Buster · missile
Battery
Single sourceCommand & Launch Unit
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum speed
Single source278–320 m/s[source]
Operational; Basic TOW most variants
Single sourceOperational; Operational range
Single sourceTOW 2B Aero · maximum range · Maximum range
Single sourceBasic TOW 3,000 m, most variants 3,750 m[source]
4,500 meters[source]TOW 2B Aero · maximum range
Effective; Air
Single sourceEffective; Spike ER
Single sourcepenetration 430–900 mm RHA
Single source3.9–6.14 kg (penetration 430–900 mm RHA )[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Wars | Vietnam War Western Sahara War Third Indochina War Lebanese Civil War 1982 Lebanon War Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Persian Gulf War War in Somalia Iraq War Syrian civil war War in Iraq (2013–2017) Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen 2016 India-Pakistan Border skirmishes Conflict in Najran, Jizan and Asir 2025 Cambodia‒Thailand conflict[source] | 1982 Lebanon War Second Intifada Iraq War 2006 Lebanon War Afghanistan War 2008 Gaza War 2014 Gaza War 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Second Nagorno-Karabakh War 2023 Gaza War Twelve-Day War 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict[source] |
|---|
| Designer | Hughes Aircraft Company[source] | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems[source] |
|---|
| Designed | 1963–1968[source] | Late 1970s (Spike NLOS)[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | $93,640 (2B Aero), $54,956 (Bunker Buster) FY2021 £8,500 (1984)[source] | $249,966 (US Army Spike NLOS, 2022), $140,000 (German Spike LR, 2017)[source] |
|---|
| No. built | > 700,000[source] | 40,000 (2023) (7,000 fired)[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | Optically tracked, wire-guided ( wireless radio-guided in RF variants)[source] | Target Acquisition : Infrared seeker CCD Missile Guidance: IIR homing CCD CCD + IIR[source] |
|---|
| Manufacturer | RTX[source] | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems & EUROSPIKE GmbH Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Diehl Defence Rheinmetall Defence Electronics ST Engineering (Singapore)[source] |
|---|
| Launch platforms | High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)-mounted Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS), HMMWV-mounted M220A4 launcher (TOW 2), Stryker Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicles, and Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems (A2/A2ODS/A2OIF/A3)[source]TOW family · named platforms Marine HMMWV-mounted M220A4 launcher (TOW 2), LAV-ATGM Vehicle, and AH1W Cobra attack helicopter[source]TOW family · Marine platforms | — |
|---|
| Produced | — | Spike NLOS : Since early 1980s Spike MR/LR/ER : Since 1997 Spike SR : Since 2012[source] |
|---|
| Variants | — | See variants[source] |
|---|
| Rate of fire | — | Ready to launch: 30 s Time to reload: 15 s[source] |
|---|
| Sights | — | 10× Optical sight[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | — | HEAT Tandem-charge[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | — | Piezoelectric trigger[source] |
|---|
| Engine | — | Solid-propellant rocket[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
| — |
|---|
Launcher
Single sourceLauncher + 4 Missiles · source measurement 4
Single sourceLauncher + 4 Missiles · source measurement 9
Single sourceLauncher + 4 Missiles Spike MR/LR from Tripod : Missile Round
Single sourceSpike ER from Helicopter : Missile Round
Single sourceThermal Sight Spike SR : Missile Round
Single sourceTripod
Single sourceSpike ER from Helicopter : Missile Round: 34 kg (75 lb) Launcher: 55 kg (121 lb) Launcher + 4 Missiles: 187 kg (412 lb) Spike MR/LR from Tripod : Missile Round: 14 kg (31 lb) Command & Launch Unit: 5 kg (11 lb) Tripod: 2.8 kg (6.2 lb) Battery: 1 kg (2.2 lb) Thermal Sight: 4 kg (8.8 lb) Spike SR : Missile Round: 9.6 kg (21 lb)[source]
Effective; Spike ER 2
Single sourceEffective; Spike ER 2 Spike NLOS : Land
Single sourceEffective; Spike LR
Single sourceEffective; Spike LR 2
Single sourceEffective; Spike MR
Single sourceEffective; Spike SR
Single sourceSpike SR : 50–1,500 m (55–1,640 yd) Spike MR : 200–2,500 m (220–2,730 yd) Spike LR : 200–4,000 m (220–4,370 yd) Spike LR 2 : 200–5,500 m (220–6,010 yd) Spike ER : 400–8,000 m (440–8,750 yd) Spike ER 2 : 400–10,000 m (440–10,940 yd) Spike NLOS : Land: 600–32,000 m (660–35,000 yd) Air: 600–50,000 m (660–54,680 yd)[source]