Firing tests with the SPIKE LR guided missile were carried out for the first time to test the load bearing capacity of the Ziesel platform.
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Press Release, Überlingen, 13 May 2026: 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 armoured 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 emphasised 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.
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