Announced at the AFA 2026 conference, qualification and integration work is currently underway at Lockheed Martin facilities in the United States. The initiative marks the first official effort to integrate the SPICE 1000 system into the F-35 platform.
Designed to neutralize fixed, high-value targets from extended standoff ranges, the SPICE 1000 employs an electro-optical seeker and scene-matching algorithms to achieve high-precision terminal guidance. The scene-matching technology compares pre-loaded target imagery with real-time video acquired by the seeker, enabling a circular error probable (CEP) of under three meters even in GPS-denied environments heavily jammed by electronic warfare.
A two-way data link allows aircrews to receive live visual feed from the munition, enabling real-time target re-designation or mission aborts to prevent collateral damage.
Currently in service with multiple international operators, the SPICE 1000 has long served as a core munition for the Israeli Air Force, primarily deployed from F-15 and F-16 platforms. The current integration extends the system's operational compatibility to Israel's fifth-generation F-35 Adir fleet.
The SPICE family—comprising the SPICE 2000 (60 km range), SPICE 1000 (125 km), SPICE 250 (100 km), and SPICE 250 ER (150 km)—was developed by Rafael and previously awarded the Israel Defense Prize.
Cost Efficiency and Strategic Impact
Converting standard Mk-83 or Mk-84 general-purpose bombs into precision-guided weapons via SPICE kits offers a significantly lower cost profile than manufacturing standalone cruise missiles, providing operational cost sustainability during high-intensity, long-duration conflicts.
The system's autonomous image-processing capability directly counters widespread GPS jamming and spoofing tactics across the Middle East, ensuring an uninterrupted first-strike capability.
Beyond Israeli operational use across F-15, F-16, and F-35I Adir fleets, the SPICE family has been fielded by international customers including India, Brazil, Greece, and South Korea, remaining one of Israel's prominent defense export lines.