Air Force to equip Sukhoi-30 fighters jets with SPICE-2000 bombs used in Balakot strike

The Indian Air Force is equipping its Sukhoi-30 fighter jets with SPICE-2000 bombs which were used to destroy the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camp in Pakistan’s Balakot. According to a report by news agency ANI citing sources, the Air Force is putting the Israeli SPICE-2000 bombs on Sukhoi-30s to enhance its firepower as currently, only Mirage 2000 fighter jets are capable of delivering these bombs.

“At the moment, the only aircraft which is capable of delivering the bombs on enemy targets is the Mirage 2000. But now, the Air Force is putting them on the Sukhoi-30 fighter jets as well to further enhance their firepower,” the agency quoted government sources as saying.

The sources said that Sukhoi-30MKI has already conducted several rounds of trials of launching the bombs at ground targets. India had purchased 200 SPICE bombs from Israel. The SPICE bombs have dual infrared IR/CCD-TV seeker algorithms and are capable of day, night and adverse weather capability.

“After a few more trials, the Sukhoi-30 fleet would be equipped with these bombs which rely on coordinates and satellite pictures of the target to home in and destroy the intended targets,” the sources added.

SPICE-2000 bombs

The SPICE (Smart Precise Impact and Cost Effective guidance kit) is a forward and tail kit evolved from the proven Popeye missile intended to convert unguided bombs into smart guided air-to-surface munitions droppable from standoff ranges. This weapon has a day, night and adverse weather capability because of its dual infrared IR/CCD-TV seeker and advanced scene-matching algorithms.

The bombs, which had an error margin of less than three metres, were loaded on Mirage-2000 combat jet at the IAF’s Gwalior airbase. The SPICE bombs can be pre-fed satellite details for the accurate geographical details of the enemy target.