Rafael integrates SPICE 1000 guided bomb on Israeli F-35I

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is integrating the SPICE 1000 stand-off guided bomb onto the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I Adir fighter jets. The project is being conducted jointly with Lockheed Martin at facilities in the United States.

The SPICE 1000 is a 1,000-pound (453 kg) autonomous air-to-surface precision weapon designed to strike fixed, high-value strategic targets at ranges exceeding 120 kilometers. To maintain guidance performance in environments where GPS may be degraded or denied, the system utilizes an electro-optical seeker combined with inertial navigation and scene-matching algorithms to identify targets during the terminal phase.

While the specific timeline for flight testing and operational availability has not been disclosed, the integration is expected to be completed within the next few months. The successful deployment on the F-35I could potentially allow other F-35 operators to acquire the Israeli-made munition, which is already in operational service with several air forces worldwide.