Biden administration proposes precision bombs to aid Israel's defense
According to "The Wall Street Journal", the administration of President Joe Biden has informed Congress about its intention to supply Israel with precision air bombs worth 320 million dollars. Given the specific nature of this arsenal, it would likely assist Israel in executing more precise attacks on Hamas fighters and their hideouts.
The American daily states that a formal notification indicating an intention to supply the ally with Spice Family Gliding Bomb Assemblies was delivered to Congress on October 31. This includes both ready-to-use bombs and precision-guided bombing kits. The latter convert conventional, unguided airborne bombs into guided bombs.
SPICE bombs in Israel
Israel's military is no stranger to these types of kits. They've been in use for some time, and are also produced by the Israeli defense corporation Rafael (as well as its American division, which is likely to be the source of the planned transfer). In the past, the United States has provided Israel with other military equipment such as air defense system missiles and artillery shells. The ongoing conflict with Hamas necessitates regular replenishment of these stocks.
The SPICE family consists of the ground-launched Spice 250 bombs, weighing about 249 lbs each, as well as the Spice 250 ER, equipped with a micro-turbo jet engine and an internal fuel tank. The family also includes modification sets for Spice 1000 and Spice 2000, designed for existing bombs weighing up to 992 lbs and 1984 lbs, respectively.
These bombs use satellite guidance and inertial navigation in conjunction with an optoelectronic system. SPICE bombs perform reliably in all weather and light conditions, boasting a precision rate of up to about 10 feet. They also offer a 'man-in-the-loop' (guidance after drop) feature.
How to transport SPICE bombs?
This type of precision-guided munition can be deployed from military aircraft. This won't pose a problem for the Israeli military, given their available units. They have previously modified their F-35I Adir fighters to utilize SPICE bombs. Besides these, F-16 and F-15 fighters, as well as French Mirage 2000 or Swedish JAS 39 Gripen jets, can also be equipped to serve this purpose.
The guidance systems added to the bombs aim to not only eliminate the target but also reduce civilian casualties. Nevertheless, the destruction caused by this type of weaponry can be devastating, especially in urban settings.
