Full Breakdown
SPICE 1000 Integration Nears Completion for Israel’s F-35I Fleet
By Drooid · · How we work
Integration Milestone: Readying the Bomb for Stealth Jets
On September 15, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced that work has begun to qualify its SPICE 1000 air-to-surface munition for the F-35I “Adir.” The effort is a joint initiative with Lockheed Martin at the latter’s U.S. facilities and is described as the first attempt to certify the weapon for a fifth-generation fighter. Rafael expects development and testing to finish within a few months, after which the Israeli Air Force will formally clear the bomb for operational use on its F-35 fleet.
Background and Technical Profile
SPICE 1000 converts a 1,000-lb general-purpose or penetration warhead into a precision-guided munition. Gliding wings enable stand-off strikes from more than 75 miles (120 km). An electro-optical seeker employing image-based scene-matching guides the bomb to fixed or high-value targets even in complex battlefield conditions. The weapon has been operational on Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft since 2017 and was employed in long-range missions, including the recent conflict with Iran. Rafael has sold SPICE 1000 to several undisclosed customers; India’s Defense Acquisition Council approved a purchase in December 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
Rafael characterizes the integration as a “significant step” toward broader fielding of the weapon on the F-35I and eventually on other operators’ aircraft. The company also notes that the partnership builds on a 2019 teaming agreement with Lockheed Martin to develop and market SPICE guidance kits for potential U.S. sales. A Pentagon report released in August referenced the ongoing work and mentioned a “SPICE Lite” acceleration process, though details were not provided.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The Israeli Air Force reports an active fleet of approximately fifty F-35I aircraft and, after completing procurement of 25 additional jets in May, projects a total of 100 stealth fighters.
- Separate Israeli statements indicate that the recent order of 25 aircraft brings the planned fleet to 75 jets.
The discrepancy between the projected fleet sizes highlights a gap in publicly confirmed numbers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At a later stage, F-35 operators worldwide will be able to field SPICE 1000,” — Iran. Rafael, F-35 adir fighter
- “Finalizing this exclusive agreement sets the scene for our two companies to provide unmatched mid-range guided air-to-surface weapon systems to enhance mission flexibility and success.” — Yuval Miller, executive vice president and general manager of Rafael’s Air and C4ISR Division