Spike FireFly

Spike FireFly overview

Spike FireFly is Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' compact vertical-takeoff loitering munition for close tactical operations. The system combines a small coaxial-rotor aircraft with an electro-optical mission payload and is intended to give a dismounted or small-unit force an organic ability to search, observe, and attack without a conventional runway or external aircraft.

Rafael publishes an approximately 3-kg system weight, a 350-g warhead, 15 minutes of endurance with one battery or up to 30 minutes after battery replacement, and operating ranges of about 500 m in urban terrain and 1,500 m in open terrain. These are manufacturer figures rather than independently verified guarantees and can depend on terrain, battery arrangement, communications conditions, and mission profile. Dimensions, maximum speed, ceiling, and detailed datalink performance are Not publicly disclosed; the supplied image is interpretative catalog art rather than technical evidence.

Rafael introduced FireFly publicly in 2019 and has marketed it for dense urban and difficult-terrain environments. Public reporting associates the system with Israeli defense users, but does not establish a complete operator list, procurement quantity, or combat employment history for every configuration. Through September 2026, the strongest public conclusion is that FireFly is a commercially offered small loitering munition, not that every advertised feature is fielded in one standard variant.

Armament

Approximately 350 g integrated warhead (manufacturer figure)

Development and operational timeline

1. Jun 2019Rafael publicly presents the FireFly vertical-takeoff loitering munition for close tactical operations
2. Jun 2020Public product descriptions emphasize man-portable operation, electro-optical observation, and operator-controlled precision engagement
3. Jun 2021Rafael continues international marketing of FireFly while detailed variant specifications remain limited
4. Sep 2026FireFly remains an offered tactical loitering munition; operator coverage, procurement quantities, and configuration details are not fully public