India Turns to Israel for SPICE-1000 Bombs

 India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved a wide-ranging defense procurement package valued at approximately $8.7 billion (₹79,000 crore). 

Among the headline items is the planned acquisition of around 1,000 SPICE-1000 long-range precision-guidance kits from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, significantly expanding the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ability to strike high-value targets from extended stand-off distances.

The SPICE-1000 approval forms part of a broader DAC clearance covering air-to-air missiles, loitering munitions, artillery rockets, radars, and other systems.

Indian defense reporting framed the decision as reflecting operational urgency and the continued prioritization of proven systems that can be fielded rapidly.

SPICE-1000 is a 500-kg (1,000-lb class) stand-off, air-to-ground precision-guided munition kit that converts conventional unguided bombs into autonomous “smart” weapons. 

The system offers a reported range of 100–125 km, allowing launch aircraft to remain outside many air-defense engagement envelopes.

Its guidance combines electro-optical scene-matching algorithms with inertial navigation, enabling GPS-independent operation and resistance to jamming, with a cited circular error probable of under 3 meters.

For the IAF, the weapon fills a niche between heavier SPICE-2000 munitions and lighter indigenous glide bombs. 

Indian reporting indicates the SPICE-1000 will be integrated across multiple fighter platforms, including Rafale, Su-30MKI, and potentially Tejas, supporting flexible employment across different strike scenarios.

The SPICE-1000 procurement was approved alongside other high-end munitions. 

These include Astra Mk-II beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, additional Meteor missiles for Rafale jets, loitering munitions, long-range Pinaka rockets, and new radar systems.

Together, the package underscores India’s emphasis on layered strike and air-combat capabilities rather than single-platform solutions.

Indian officials have not released a delivery timeline or unit cost breakdown, but the scale of the overall package—₹79,000 crore—has drawn attention domestically, particularly as indigenous alternatives advance toward induction.

India has an established operational history with Rafael’s SPICE family. SPICE-2000 munitions were used during the 2019 Balakot airstrike, and emergency purchases of more than 100 units followed later that year amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. 

According to SIPRI data cited in Indian and Israeli media, India accounted for roughly 34% of Israeli defense exports between 2020 and 2024, making it Rafael’s largest export customer.

While India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing indigenous glide bombs such as Gaurav, Indian reporting suggests the DAC favored SPICE-1000 for its maturity and near-term availability.

The decision highlights a continuing pattern: parallel pursuit of domestic programs alongside selective imports where operational gaps are judged to persist.

https://clashreport.com/defense/articles/india-turns-to-israel-for-spice-1000-bombs-a907u0kt0jn