Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is integrating its SPICE 1000 precision-guided weapon system on the F-35 fighter jet for the first time, in cooperation with Lockheed Martin.
The project is being carried out at Lockheed Martin facilities in the US and is expected to be completed within the next few months. Once the integration is complete, the Israeli Air Force will also be able to employ the weapon from its F-35 aircraft.
The integration could pave the way for other countries operating F-35s to acquire the Israeli-made weapon, which has already been sold to several countries and is in operational service with a number of air forces worldwide.
The SPICE 1000 is an autonomous air-to-surface precision weapon system developed by Rafael for striking fixed and strategic targets at ranges of more than 120 kilometers (75 miles). It is equipped with an electro-optical seeker and navigates toward its target using image-matching algorithms. The system has been in Israeli Air Force service for several years. According to Rafael, it was used extensively during Israeli Air Force operations in Iran, where it was released from F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.
The SPICE 1000 is part of Rafael's SPICE family of autonomous precision air-to-surface weapons, available in three different weight classes and with ranges of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles). The system was developed by Rafael and previously received the Israel Defense Prize.
