Together with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and EuroSpike GmbH, Diehl Defence conducted for the first time firing tests with the guided missile Spike LR, to assess the Ziesel platform’s resilience in terms of construction and live firing. With this firing series, the UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) Ziesel becomes the first system from which a modern guided missile has been successfully fired. This milestone could be reached only three months after the first presentation of the UGV with the Spike launcher assembly at Enforce Tac 2025 in Nuremberg.
Unmanned ground-based systems are currently receiving a great deal of attention. As a result, the demand for versatile payload options is rising, particularly to keep soldiers out of dangerous situations for as long as possible. The tests conducted spanned five days. In total, 17 guided missiles were fired successfully. The platform demonstrated its capabilities and withstood the stresses of deployment. Spike LR is a defensive missile against armored targets with all-weather capable optronic sensors.
Reworked Ziesel as a Platform
The Diehl Defence UGV used was a reworked platform that has undergone both hardware and software improvements compared to its predecessor versions. The Ziesel has been field-tested in numerous variants, including as a logistics variant, for Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC), and now also for the first time as a carrier of an effector. It is complemented by Diehl Defence’s Autonomy Kit Platon, which makes the UGV a fully autonomous system. Currently, the Ziesel is being tested by several armed forces, including Germany and Ukraine.
The companies involved emphasized after the firing tests their joint commitment to quickly advancing the next milestones and further developing the concept. In addition, a demonstration before representatives of various armed forces is planned to showcase the innovativeness and potential of the UGV Ziesel in combination with Spike LR.
