India eyes more Spice
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is to buy more Spice 2000 precision-guidance kits from Israel, using emergency procurement powers granted by the Narendra Modi government, according to reports in the Indian media.
Spice is an Israeli precision guidance kit, made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, that is designed to convert conventional unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the IAF has approximately 100 Spice munitions in its inventory.
Spice 2000 is designed to work with general-purpose and penetration warheads weighing about 2,000 lb (900kg). It consists of an add-on kit for warheads such as the MK-84, BLU-109, RAP-2000 and others.
Amid the ongoing border dispute with China, the Indian government has given the armed forces discretionary powers to spend up to INR500 crore ($66 million) on any weapon system.
Spice 2000 was used by the IAF in 2019, in airstrikes on Pakistani terrorist camps.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
Quantum Systems details 480km/h Ukrainian interceptor as production scales up
Quantum Systems’s Ukraine-made interceptor SPYS is thought to cost approximately 10 times less than Russia's jet-powered uncrewed aerial systems and is being produced at scale.
-
UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs
The UK is seeking to extend the operational reach of uncrewed aerial vehicles, reflecting growing demand for compact, energy-efficient technology to support beyond-line-of-sight operations.
-
Loyal wingman programmes gather pace as US and European procurement plans take shape
Northrop Grumman, Airbus and Anduril are positioning their uncrewed aerial vehicles for future collaborative combat aircraft contracts in a market that is forecast to exceed $36 billion.
-
UK A400M Saudi deployment highlights airlifter’s role as Airbus pursues upgrades
Airbus is developing new capabilities for its A400M transport aircraft as European countries consider future airlift requirements and the UK plans to deploy the aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
-
The new generation of defence companies emerging from the US UAV boom
As the Pentagon accelerates procurement of low-cost, lethal UAVs through its Drone Dominance Program, emerging suppliers will need to demonstrate manufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience and reliability.