Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense has reportedly finalized a $250-million agreement with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to locally manufacture the Spike Firefly loitering munition. Production will occur at a facility in Vietnam with Israeli technology transfer support, enabling licensed domestic manufacturing. The 3-kilogram tactical munition is optimized for urban combat scenarios, where limited visibility and civilian risk constrain conventional firepower. Armed with either a fragmentation or shaped-charge warhead, it can engage targets up to 500 meters in dense terrain and 1,500 meters in open areas. Depending on battery configuration, endurance ranges from 15 to 30 minutes, with standby capability extending to two hours. The agreement strengthens Vietnam’s defense industrial base while expanding access to precision loitering munitions.
