Denmark completes first Spike LR2 missile live firing from Eagle V armored vehicle.

Denmark has completed the first integrated live firing of the Spike LR2 missile from the Eagle V armored patrol vehicle during a test conducted at Oksbøl in November 2025.

Denmark announced on January 8, 2026, the first integrated live firing of the Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missile from the Eagle V armored patrol vehicle. The firing took place on November 6, 2025, at the Oksbøl training area and validated the integration of Spike LR2 with the Kongsberg Protector RS4 weapon station.
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Denmark has completed the first integrated live firing of the Spike LR2 missile from the Eagle V armored patrol vehicle during a test conducted at Oksbøl in November 2025. (Picture source: Danish MoD)

The live firing at Oksbøl represented the first integrated sharp firing of the fifth-generation Spike LR2 from Denmark’s new stabilized weapon station mounted on the Eagle V. During the event, the missile was programmed for a fragmentation effect and struck precisely in the center of the designated target boards in the target area. This outcome was used to confirm both the accuracy of the missile and the proper functioning of the integration between the missile system, the weapon station, and the vehicle platform. The firing followed several years of integration work and was characterized as a key technical milestone rather than a final operational acceptance. Personnel involved in the program described the firing as confirmation that the system functions as planned under live conditions, validating the chosen architecture for further rollout.

The next phase involves completing the remaining integration work and addressing issues identified during testing. This includes receiving the remaining weapon stations and integration kits required to equip the planned Eagle V fleet, as well as establishing full training programs for crews and instructors. The firing demonstrated that the selected architecture allows the missile to be launched, guided, and controlled through the vehicle’s weapon station without requiring separate external systems. This confirms that the Eagle V can act as a launch platform while retaining its primary reconnaissance function. The event also serves as a reference point for subsequent integration refinements, additional firings, and eventual unit-level introduction within the Army.

The Spike LR2 is an Israeli electro-optically guided anti-tank missile with a maximum ground-launched range of up to 5.5 kilometers. For the Danish Army, this range supports engagement of armored and other high-value targets at distances significantly beyond those achievable with previous vehicle-mounted direct-fire weapons. The missile supports top-attack engagement profiles, allowing it to strike armored vehicles from above, an area typically associated with lower levels of protection. Operators can select a tandem HEAT warhead intended to defeat heavy armor, including vehicles equipped with reactive armor, or a multipurpose blast-fragmentation warhead for use against lighter vehicles, structures, or area targets. Notably, the Spike's "fire, observe, and update" function allows the operator to adjust the aim point or redirect the missile to a different target during flight, when targets move, or where new priority targets appear after launch.

In the Danish configuration, the Spike LR2 is designed for both dismounted and vehicle-mounted employment, providing flexibility across different mission profiles. When used dismounted, the missile is operated through the integrated Command Launch Unit, which serves as the central control element of the system. For vehicle-mounted use, the missile is connected to the stabilized weapon station through a dedicated mechanical interface unit mounted on the station itself. This arrangement allows the same missile type and control logic to be used whether the operator is inside the vehicle or operating on foot. The approach supports consistent training and logistics while enabling reconnaissance and infantry elements to adapt missile employment to terrain, threat, and mission requirements without changing weapon families.

The stabilized weapon station integrated on the Eagle V is based on the Kongsberg Protector RS4, a fully stabilized 2+2-axis remote weapon station already purchased by Denmark for its Piranha Vs. The RS4 supports a wide range of weapons, including 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles such as the Spike LR2. It incorporates day and thermal sensors, a laser rangefinder, and digital fire control linked to vehicle navigation systems. Integrated GPS navigation and geo-referenced target points ensure that targets remain fixed on digital maps regardless of the vehicle's movement or orientation. Moreover, the Protector RS4's stabilized sight and weapon platform also enables an accurate fire while the vehicle is moving, with the crew operating the system from under armor protection.

Finally, the Eagle V is a 4x4 protected wheeled armored vehicle produced by GDELS-Mowag purchased in two batches by Denmark; the first order covered 36 Eagle Vs in 2017, and an additional agreement in 2020 covered 56 additional Eagle V vehicles in the patrol configuration, along with one prototype vehicle in the open reconnaissance configuration, often referred to as RECCE Open. In its standard 4x4 configuration, the Eagle V has a curb weight of 7,000 kg and a maximum gross vehicle mass of 10,000 kg. The Eagle V measures 5.37 meters in length, 2.16 meters in width, and 2.60 meters in height, and is designed to carry a crew of one driver plus four passengers. Powered by a Cummins ISB 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel engine, this 4x4 reaches a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour, and a range of 650 kilometers with a fuel capacity of 180 liters. The suspension is fully independent on all four wheels, ground clearance is 0.4 meters, and the vehicle is capable of a maximum gradient of 60 percent and a fording depth of 0.76 meters without preparation.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.