Diehl Defence has successfully completed the first live firing of Spike LR guided missiles from its Ziesel uncrewed ground vehicle during a five-day testing campaign.
The robotic platform launched a total of 17 anti-tank guided missiles throughout the trials, confirming the vehicle’s structural durability and load-bearing performance during sustained live-fire operations.
The milestone follows the debut of the Spike-equipped Ziesel at Enforce Tac 2025 in Nürnberg earlier this year, marking rapid progress in the integration of guided missile capabilities onto the compact UGV platform.
The firing tests were conducted in cooperation with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and EuroSpike GmbH, which is jointly operated by Rafael, Rheinmetall Electronics, and Diehl Defence. The companies stated that additional demonstrations and further concept development activities are planned following the successful evaluation.
Designed as a modernized version of earlier platforms, the Ziesel UGV supports multiple operational roles, including battlefield logistics, casualty evacuation, and armed effector missions. The compact vehicle measures 1.6 meters in length and 1.3 meters in width while supporting payloads of more than 500 kilograms. Powered by an electric drive system, it can travel at speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour.
The platform incorporates Diehl Defence’s PLATON autonomous navigation package, enabling obstacle avoidance and independent movement without relying on active sensors that could expose the vehicle to detection or electronic warfare threats. The Ziesel is currently in operational service and is being actively tested by several military organizations, including forces in Germany and Ukraine.
