Lithuania Boosts Anti-Tank Power with Live-Fire Test of Spike Missile from Vilkas Combat Vehicle.

On May 16, 2025, the Lithuanian Armed Forces announced that they have conducted the first live fire of their VILKAS Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), a Boxer-based platform developed by Rheinmetall, equipped with the fifth-generation Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missile from Rafael. Carried out during a live fire exercise, this test demonstrated the successful integration of high mobility with long-range precision strike capability. The event marks a key step in Lithuania’s modernization of its mechanized forces, enhancing both defensive depth and deterrent value along NATO’s Eastern flank amid rising regional tensions.
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The VILKAS-Spike LR2 pairing stands out among NATO IFVs (Picture source: Lithuanian Army)

The VILKAS IFV, based on the modular Boxer platform, is tailored to Lithuania’s terrain and mission needs. It is armed with the Israeli Samson Mk II Remote Weapon Station, featuring a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm machine gun, and Spike LR2 missile launcher. The Spike LR2 offers a 5.5 km ground range (10 km from air platforms), enhanced armor penetration via a tandem HEAT warhead, or a selectable multipurpose warhead. Its dual-mode seeker incorporates AI-based target tracking, and its steep-attack capability allows strikes against targets protected by active defense systems.

Originally ordered in 2016, the VILKAS fleet was developed in cooperation with ARTEC, joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS, and integrated into Lithuania’s “Iron Wolf” mechanized brigade. The integration of the Spike LR2 in 2025 represents a significant upgrade in lethality and tactical versatility. Lithuania’s defense industry, supported by German and Israeli partners, ensured that the platform met NATO interoperability standards and suited local operational conditions, including rapid maneuver and terrain adaptability.

The VILKAS-Spike LR2 pairing stands out among NATO IFVs. Compared to Sweden’s CV90 or Germany’s Puma, the Lithuanian vehicle’s standoff missile capacity offers a direct threat to enemy armor from a transport-capable platform. While older systems like the Marder with Milan or even earlier Spike versions provided similar dual-role options, the LR2's AI targeting, fire-and-update capacity, and improved range reflect a significant evolution in lethality and precision.

Strategically, this capability reshapes Lithuania’s posture on NATO’s eastern flank. With the ability to transport troops and neutralize armored threats at long range, VILKAS units can respond flexibly to incursions or massed armor, particularly in critical areas like the Suwałki Gap. It reflects NATO’s shift toward distributed lethality and networked defense, where small nations field mobile precision systems with decisive battlefield impact.

The exercise also reinforces NATO’s broader messaging toward adversaries: the Alliance’s front-line members are increasingly equipped to counter high-end threats with modern, integrated systems. By fielding an IFV that merges tactical transport with a fire-and-forget ATGM like the Spike LR2, Lithuania signals that it can both hold ground and shape the battlefield at distance, without relying on heavier armor assets alone.

Lithuania’s successful live fire of the VILKAS IFV with the Spike LR2 missile demonstrates the growing effectiveness of NATO's lighter, modular, and network-enabled forces. By integrating high-precision anti-tank firepower into an agile IFV, Lithuania has enhanced its combat credibility and regional deterrence. This development represents a clear message: even small frontline states can now field systems that merge mobility, protection, and lethal reach to counter complex threats in modern warfare.