Lockheed Martin and Rafael partner to offer the SPICE-250 smart bomb to the U.S. Military
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Lockheed Martin and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. of Israel signed a collaboration agreement that allows the team to jointly develop, market, manufacture and support Rafael’s Smart, Precise Impact and Cost-Effective (SPICE™) 250 weapon system for sale in the United States and Poland. This agreement marks the first time the SPICE-250 system will be made available for sale to the U.S. military.
As LM reminds in its press release, there is already a collaboration agreement between the 2 companies in place since 2019 for the joint marketing of SPICE 1000 AND 2000 guidance kits in the U.S. SPICE-250, the lightest system in the family, joins that agreement, completing the range of SPICE family smart munitions available.
SPICE is a family of air-to-surface autonomous weapon systems that provide affordable accuracy in a GPS signal denial environment. The combat-proven SPICE family of products includes two guidance kits, SPICE-1000 and SPICE-2000, as well as a complete 250 lb set, known as SPICE-250.
«Lockheed Martin’s deep experience in weapon system integration will help us tailor SPICE-250 to meet U.S. standards,» said Dave Pantano, Lockheed Martin program manager. «We are excited to leverage this expertise and offer this unique and proven weapon system to aircraft operators for additional mission flexibility where it is needed most.»
In use since 2003, the SPICE has been combat-proven and is in service with the Israel Air Force and other countries around the world. It allows F-16s and F-15s to be loaded with a large number of munitions, reduces pilot workload and provides multiple strike capability against many types of targets.
«GPS is not required to operate any of the SPICE family of products, enabling operations in a variety of locations and harsh environments,» said Alon Shlomi, vice president of Rafael’s Air-to-Surface Directorate. «By expanding our partnership agreement with Lockheed Martin, we are able to offer the entire product portfolio to the U.S. military, providing warfighters the opportunity to enhance mission flexibility.»
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