The “smart” Israeli spice in the Air Force's quiver – the “green light” from the United States

*Written by Kostas Sarikas

The Americans' approval for certification and use by our Air Force's F-16 fighters SPICE “smart” kits are Israeli-made It paves the way for their immediate acquisition. This is equipment that turns simple, general-purpose bombs into long-range, high-precision guided weapons.

According to information from Onalert.gr, in the last few days the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Staff have received a positive response from the relevant authorities of the USA so that the HAF can acquire the powerful weapons and include them in its arsenal. An Israeli weapons system, proven on US Air Force fighters. The next step is to start final negotiations between GDAEE and the Israelis to sign the relevant agreement.

The Air Force will get both SPICE 1000 sets, Which guide MK-83 bombs weighing 1,014 lb (460 kg) with a charge of 445 lb (202 kg) but also SPICE 2000which is intended for MK-84 bombs with a weight of 2,039 lb (925 kg) and a charge of 945 lb (429 kg).

SPICE kits use a guidance kit with a combination of electro-optical sensors and GPS, which guides the bombs with an accuracy of up to three meters over very long distances. With the help of special wings, which deploy after the bomb is released according to JSOW, SPICE-guided bombs Its range reaches 120 km.

And so are the fighters who transport them They can be fired from distances that put them beyond the range of ground-based anti-aircraft weapons and enemy aircraftWithout the risk of dropping it when it approaches the target.

The software that comes with Spice Collections Allows selection of up to 100 targetsWith the pilot being able to decide during the flight where to direct the bombs Either by geographical coordinates via Global Positioning System (GPS), or by photos using the photovoltaic system.

The addition of the SPICE 1000 and SPICE 2000 sets to our Air Force arsenal will provide exceptional operational capabilities to the HAF fleet, Significantly strengthening the deterrence power of the armed forces against the Turkish threatGreek fighters will be able to hit targets with great accuracy and at great depth, whether on land or on the surface of the sea.

The SPICE kits can be adopted for all versions of the F-16 available to the Air Force, while the Indian Air Force has already certified and used them on the French Mirage 2000-5 fighters.. SPICE kits have been used by Israeli fighters since 2003, while the smart weapons system has already been sold to Brazil, Colombia, India, Singapore and South Korea.

The Air Force's interest in Spice kits dates back to 2006, when the Air Force Supreme Council made a decision on the matter. Five years later KYSEA has agreed to purchase 300 Spice kits for €130 million through a joint agreement with Israel, which is expected to entrust implementation of the program to manufacturing company Rafael.. But the process “freezes” for a number of reasons, the first of which is financial weakness.