In a recent airstrike in Beirut, an Israeli bomb was captured by an Associated Press photographer as it plummeted towards a building before detonating. The strike occurred 40 minutes after Israel issued warnings to evacuate two buildings in the area, citing their proximity to Hezbollah warehouses and assets. The bomb used in the attack was identified as a 2,000-pound warhead fitted with an Israeli-made guidance kit known as SPICE, designed for precision targeting.
The SPICE guidance system, developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, allows for accurate targeting day or night, in adverse weather conditions, and even in GPS-jammed areas. The system is known for its high lethality, low collateral damage, and pinpoint accuracy, keeping the attacking aircraft at a safe distance from the target. The bomb can be launched up to 60 kilometers away from its intended destination, making it a formidable weapon in Israel's arsenal.
The SPICE bomb operates using GPS and electro-optical guidance systems, adjusting its course towards the target with movable fins. The bomb's delayed action fuse limits blast damage and fragmentation, confining destruction primarily to the targeted building. This precision helps minimize collateral damage and civilian casualties.
The SPICE guidance kits are manufactured by Rafael in Israel, with some components potentially sourced from foreign suppliers. In collaboration with U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, Rafael produces and sells SPICE guidance kits in the U.S. The recent approval of additional SPICE bomb assemblies for export to Israel underscores the ongoing partnership between the two countries in defense technology.
While the explosive warhead used in the bomb is a basic MK-84 style explosive, the addition of the SPICE guidance system enhances its precision and effectiveness. The U.S. had previously paused shipments of such bombs to Israel due to concerns over civilian casualties, but Israel is believed to have existing stockpiles of these weapons.
The exact origin of the bomb components remains unclear, as Israel relies on the U.S. for MK-84 bombs while also producing similar weapons domestically. Determining the source of the bomb parts would require examining remnants with identifiable markings, shedding light on the intricate supply chain involved in manufacturing these powerful munitions.
