Cyprus hosts 21st international SPIKE users meeting

In October 2026, the Cyprus National Guard hosted the 21st international meeting of the SPIKE Users Club in Larnaca. The event, organized by the Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, brought together more than 200 military representatives and specialists from 23 countries to discuss operational experiences and the expansion of the SPIKE missile systems' capabilities.

A key development during the summit was the first international presentation of the L-SPIKE system, a new loitering munition designed to enhance target detection and engagement. According to Rafael, the international footprint of the SPIKE family has grown significantly, with four new countries joining the network since the previous meeting and bringing the total number of users to approximately 48 nations.

During the event, the Deputy Chief of the Cyprus National Guard, Lieutenant General Neophytos Pachoulides, praised the performance of existing SPIKE systems, noting their contribution to Cyprus's defense posture through precision, range, and reliability. The gathering also included a military competition featuring live-fire exercises, highlighting the ongoing collaboration between international users to adapt these technologies for modern conflicts.