The Indian Air Force has signed a deal with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to procure some 200 advanced SPICE 2000 bombs for some $30 million, Indian media reported Monday.
"SPICE," which stands for "smart, precise impact, cost-effective," is an Israeli-developed, electro-optics and GPS-guided kit for converting air-droppable unguided bombs into precision-guided bombs.
SPICE is considered especially advanced and is designed for air-to-ground missiles weighing 900 kilograms. The system is used by the Israeli Air Force, where it is nicknamed "steel hailstones."
The Indian Air Force has used SPICE bombs in counterterrorism operations in Pakistan as recently as Feb. 26.
According to local media reports, the deal was classified as an "emergency procurement," placed under the special financial powers given to the military by the Indian government.
Rafael is expected to supply India with the bombs within the next three months.
In 2014, the Indian Air Force brought a large number of SPICE bombs for about $100 million.
Rafael declined to comment on the reports.
