F-35 Adir to get new 1,000-pound SPICE precision missile with 75 mile-range

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on September 15 that it has begun integrating its SPICE 1000 air-to-surface munition with the F-35 fighter aircraft. The work is being carried out with Lockheed Martin at facilities in the U.S. and marks the first effort to qualify the weapon for the fifth-generation fighter. The project is expected to bring the SPICE 1000 to Israel’s F-35I Adir fleet. Rafael described the effort as a “significant step” toward making the munition available to other F-35 operators worldwide. SPICE 1000 moves onto the F-35 The SPICE family is designed to give combat aircraft a stand-off strike capability of more than 75 miles (120 kilometers). The product line includes the SPICE 2000, SPICE 1000 and SPICE 250, with the numbers referring to their approximate weapon weight in pounds. SPICE 1000 has been operational with the Israeli Air Force since 2017. Rafael said the weapon has been used extensively during long-range operations from Israeli F-15 and F-16 aircraft. Its integration with the F-35I will expand the aircraft types that can carry the munition. Israel was the first country to use the F-35 in combat, beginning in 2018. It has also ordered 25 additional aircraft, bringing its planned F-35 fleet to 75 jets. AFA 2026: For the first time, Rafael's SPICE 1000 is being integrated on the F-35Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is integrating its SPICE 1000 air-to-surface munition on the F-35 Adir fighter aircraft.SPICE 1000 is an advanced air-to-surface munition capable of striking… pic.twitter.com/QOeNISGKFE— Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (@RAFAELdefense) September 15, 2026 Joint work underway in the US Rafael said the F-35 integration is “being carried out as a joint project” with Lockheed Martin over the next several months in the U.S. The companies are working to qualify SPICE 1000 for carriage and employment from the aircraft. Rafael said the initial integration will support Israeli F-35I aircraft, with wider availability planned later. “At a later stage, F-35 operators worldwide will be able to field SPICE 1000,” Rafael said. A Pentagon report published in April and cleared for public release in August also referenced the effort. It said SPICE integration on F-35 aircraft “continues to progress with a strategy to accelerate the implementation via a SPICE Lite process.” The report did not explain what the SPICE Lite process involves. Seeker guides weapon to its target SPICE 1000 uses an electro-optical seeker for terminal guidance. Rafael said the system uses image-based recognition to match the target environment and guide the munition during an attack. Rafael said SPICE is “equipped with an electro-optical seeker. The munition homes in on its target using advanced scene-matching algorithms and is optimized for the challenges of the modern battlefield.” The weapon is intended for precision attacks against fixed and high-value targets at extended ranges. Its guidance system is designed to operate in complex battlefield conditions while allowing the launch aircraft to engage targets from a distance. Earlier Rafael-Lockheed partnership The latest integration builds on earlier cooperation between the two companies. Rafael and Lockheed Martin signed a teaming agreement in 2019 to jointly develop, market and manufacture SPICE guidance kits for potential U.S. sales. At the time, Yuval Miller, executive vice president and general manager of Rafael’s Air and C4ISR Division, said, “Finalizing 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.”In 2021, the companies expanded the agreement to jointly develop SPICE 250 “for sale in the United States and in Poland.” The new F-35 integration now extends their cooperation to the SPICE 1000 and the aircraft operated by Israel and potentially other F-35 users.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.