Lockheed Martin close combat systems acting vice-president Rich Benton and Rafael air and C4I systems division head Yuval Miller officially sign the teaming agreement. Credit: PRNewsfoto / Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Lockheed Martin has partnered with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to market the Rafael Smart, Precise Impact and Cost-Effective (SPICE) guidance kits for sale in the US.

Under the teaming agreement, the companies will jointly develop, market, manufacture and support SPICE guidance kits.

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Rafael noted that the teaming agreement with Lockheed will allow the companies to provide advanced mid-range guided air-to-surface weapon systems.

SPICE is an Israeli-developed range of stand-off, autonomous, GPS-guided guidance kits that has the ability to convert air-droppable unguided bombs into precision-guided bombs.

The air-to-surface weapon systems are designed to provide affordable precision in a GPS-denied environment.

The combat-proven guided bomb achieved initial operational capability in 2003 and has been in service with the Israeli Air Force and several other countries.

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Rafael executive vice-president and air and C4ISR division general manager Yuval Miller said: “Access to GPS is becoming increasingly limited in contested environments. SPICE provides a solution to this challenge.

“Finalising 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.”

Under the teaming agreement, Lockheed Martin and Rafael will manufacture and market the 453kg SPICE 1000 and the 907kg SPICE 2000 kit variants. SPICE is available in three variants.

Currently, more than 60% of the SPICE guided bomb is manufactured in eight US states.

“We will adapt SPICE to meet US standards so bomber and fighter aircraft can benefit from the added mission flexibility.”

Lockheed Martin missiles and fire control vice-president John Varley said: “SPICE offers the US Department of Defense and many allies a capability that no other weapon currently in inventory provides.

“By applying our expertise in aircraft integration, mission planning and tailkit design, along with our experience in affordable streamlined production, we will adapt SPICE to meet US standards so bomber and fighter aircraft can benefit from the added mission flexibility that SPICE offers.”

In July, Lockheed Martin and Rafael signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate potential markets and user requirements for SPICE guidance kits.

Spice 1000 was cleared for operational use in March 2018 with the IAF’s Barak (F-16C/D) aircraft.