This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has a proven capability to attack targets from far away.
One such tool is the Rafael Spice kit.
The Rafael Spice guidance kit , has become more lethal and can now be used in a “variety” of attack techniques to achieve maximum impact in a short time.
The Spice is now a “main system” in the Inventory of the IAF .The kit has also been exported to a number of airforces that are using it on some of their bombs.
The Rafael Spice guidance kit has been adapted to small smart bombs (SSB) that are used in a growing number in limited conflicts.
The Rafael Spice smart bomb kit can be loaded with 100 optional targets in a given area.
The image matching sensor of the Spice gives it a CEP of less than 3 meters. It was adapted now to 250 pound bombs that are preferred by airforces that are sensitive to collateral damage.
The basic Spice is used on MK-84 2000 pounds bombs. it gives the bomb a range of over 60 km.This version is operational in the israeli airforce and was used in combat.
The kit has been adapted to Mk-83 1000 pounds bombs and gives it a 100 + km range. The upgrade effort is also aimed at extending the range.
The Spice’s deployable wings allow an aircraft to carry more bombs.
The new version allows an F-16 size fighter to carry up to 16 small smart bombs.
The weapon is navigated by a GPS/INS Satellite/Inertial Navigation system.
The INS is used both as an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and as a sensor device for weapon angular position and motion. The GPS receiver, serves as a backup for the INS and reduces drift by including GPS inputs in navigation calculations.
But the main sensor of the Spice is the CCD/IIR dual seeker that provides pinpoint accuracy and positive target identification and according to Rafael , overcomes target location error and GPS jamming.
The Kit’s automatic target acquisition capability is based on a unique scene-matching technology that can handle scenery changes, counter-measures, navigation errors and target location errors.
The technology is based on the continuous comparison of a real-time image received from the dual CCD/IIR seeker with a reference image stored in the weapon’s computer
i-HLS ISRAEL Homeland Security