IAF Plans 300+ km Range Spice-250 ER Bomb Acquisition to Hit Targets without Exposing Fighter Jets to Pakistan's Long-Range A2A Missiles

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is advancing its plans to acquire the Spice-250 Extended Range (ER) precision-guided bombs, a move designed to significantly bolster its deep-strike capabilities.

This strategic acquisition will provide IAF fighter jets with a stand-off weapon capable of hitting targets over 300 kilometres away, ensuring pilots can launch attacks from well within Indian airspace and safely beyond the reach of Pakistan's most advanced long-range air-to-air missiles.

The primary motivation for this procurement is to counter the growing threat posed by the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) modern missile systems.

The PAF has integrated the Chinese-made PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) onto its fleet of J-10C and JF-17 fighter jets. The export variant of this missile, the PL-15E, has a declared range of 145 km.

This weapon, along with the emerging PL-17, forms a critical part of Pakistan's air defence strategy, creating a formidable challenge for aircraft operating near the border.

Developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, the Spice-250 ER is a highly sophisticated air-to-surface weapon. Unlike a standard glide bomb, the ER version is equipped with a micro-turbojet engine, which extends its range dramatically.

It employs an advanced guidance system that combines GPS and Inertial Navigation with an electro-optical seeker. This seeker uses artificial intelligence and scene-matching technology to identify targets, making the weapon highly accurate and resistant to GPS jamming.

This technology is an evolution of the Spice family of bombs, which the IAF has successfully used in the past, most notably during the 2019 Balakot airstrike.

The acquisition of the Spice-250 ER represents a major tactical advantage for India. With a range exceeding 300 kilometres, the weapon allows the IAF's frontline aircraft, such as the Su-30 MKI and Rafale, to destroy high-value enemy assets like command centres, airbases, and critical military infrastructure without being exposed to retaliatory fire.

By outranging the PAF's air-to-air missile shield, the IAF can effectively neutralize threats and maintain air dominance in potential future conflicts, fundamentally shifting the dynamics of aerial engagement in the region.

This planned purchase is a key component of India's ongoing military modernization efforts, aimed at maintaining a technological edge over its adversaries.

While this deal focuses on foreign procurement, it complements the nation's push for self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which includes the development of indigenous stand-off weapons like the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW).

Together, these systems enhance the nation's layered defence posture and its ability to project power from a safe distance. Official confirmation of the order is awaited.

 

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[abhinav srivastava]

We should have more higher-range air-to-air missiles.

 

[Hawkeye]

Amazing! From 70 km with the one we currently have to 300 km. Why not make something like this? We need to get R-37 missiles with 300-400 km range also. Our Astra Mk3 will take at least 5 years. It costs 1/3rd the price of Meteor: $800,000 versus $2.2 million USD. With both, we can fire from a standoff distance safely.

 

[sanket]

Will it be integrated on Mirage-2000 & Rafale apart from Russian & indigenous platforms? Because Dassault has offered HAMMER instead of SPICE Bomb. It will be interesting to see now if Dassault will bend or if they will develop a matching similar range for HAMMER. The French are very slow in upgrading or matching modern warfare; the Mirage-2000 upgrade, as well as its weapon package, is a good example. That's the reason why we need sharing of source code as well as autonomy in upgrading without OEM permission. Mirage-2000 is known for its ground attack role; if it is integrated with SPICE-250 ER, it can perform a stand-off strike without crossing the border or within the reach of SAM/air defence system/or any BVR, as it lacks a 150 km plus BVR Missile in modern warfare where the Mirage-2000 has fallen back compared to the MIG-29 which is of the same era.

 

[Jabberwock]

Will it be integrated on Mirage-2000 & Rafale apart from Russian & indigenous platforms? Because Dassault has offered HAMMER instead of SPICE Bomb. It will be interesting to see now if Dassault will bend or if they will develop a matching similar range for HAMMER. The French are very slow in upgrading or matching modern warfare; the Mirage-2000 upgrade, as well as its weapon package, is a good example. That's the reason why we need sharing of source code as well as autonomy in upgrading without OEM permission. Mirage-2000 is known for its ground attack role; if it is integrated with SPICE-250 ER, it can perform a stand-off strike without crossing the border or within the reach of SAM/air defence system/or any BVR, as it lacks a 150 km plus BVR Missile in modern warfare where the Mirage-2000 has fallen back compared to the MIG-29 which is of the same era.

French put the Israeli weapon exhibitions under black ghetto walls in the Paris Air Show. Do you think they will integrate any of the Israeli weapons to the Rafale?!

 

[sanket]

French put the Israeli weapon exhibitions under black ghetto walls in the Paris Air Show. Do you think they will integrate any of the Israeli weapons to the Rafale?!

What's left for Dassault to offer Israel? They have SPICE-250 ER, which is better than HAMMER. The indigenous NASM-MR is superior to the outdated Exocet anti-ship missile. The indigenous Rudram series is better than what Dassault would offer. The only remaining options are Spectra, Meteor, and SCALP, which I have already mentioned in my morning comment. If Dassault wants to sell more Rafales under MRFA, then they have to bend, whether it is for indigenous weapon/sensor integration or third-party integration.

 

[Jabberwock]

What's left for Dassault to offer Israel? They have SPICE-250 ER, which is better than HAMMER. The indigenous NASM-MR is superior to the outdated Exocet anti-ship missile. The indigenous Rudram series is better than what Dassault would offer. The only remaining options are Spectra, Meteor, and SCALP, which I have already mentioned in my morning comment. If Dassault wants to sell more Rafales under MRFA, then they have to bend, whether it is for indigenous weapon/sensor integration or third-party integration.

The talk is that the Meteor missile on the Eurofighter Typhoon is more potent as its radar is more powerful compared to the Rafale. The proof is that Turkey wanted to purchase Eurofighter fighter jets with Meteor missiles to have an advantage over Greece, which has the Rafale. That means that India needs to upgrade the radars on the Rafale and must have the source code to integrate it for a BVR capability of 200km+.

 

[kumar]

We should have more higher-range air-to-air missiles.

Wait for Astra MK3

 

[Akshat]

Wait for Astra MK3

It's already quite a long wait sir. Work started over a decade ago yet we haven't seen a single missile being fired, figuratively speaking.

 

[nara]

Doesn't India have any indigenous bombs like this? With so much development going on, this looks like something that should be made in India, and not imported.

 

[Akshat]

The talk is that the Meteor missile on the Eurofighter Typhoon is more potent as its radar is more powerful compared to the Rafale. The proof is that Turkey wanted to purchase Eurofighter fighter jets with Meteor missiles to have an advantage over Greece, which has the Rafale. That means that India needs to upgrade the radars on the Rafale and must have the source code to integrate it for a BVR capability of 200km+.

Highly unlikely. There was a study commissioned by Eurojet consortium in 2015. It was led by Justin Bronk from RUSI, a UK based Institute. It was supposed to compare EF Typhoon and Rafale. He also published a follow on version in 2020. In both the versions, he said that Rafale has a much better radar. And in 2020, he even suggested that Typhoon is unlikely to field a better radar at least till 2030. Mind you, these studies were paid for by EJ, so it is supposed to be biased towards them. If even then the author says Rafale has a better radar, I think you can imagine the real advantage Rafale enjoys.

Now coming to your proof. Turkey is interested in buying Typhoon because there are only 3 platforms which can fire Meteor right now. One is Gripen. But that plane is quite outdated and can't compete with EF Typhoon or Rafale. And France is unlikely to sell Rafale to Turkey. So they actually don't have any other option. So it's not much of a proof sir.

 

[Rational Guy]

It's already quite a long wait sir. Work started over a decade ago yet we haven't seen a single missile being fired, figuratively speaking.

Air-to-air missiles are no joke; it took even a country like China over 10-15 years to make their first air-to-air missiles, some SD-10 IIRC.

 

[Akshat]

What's left for Dassault to offer Israel? They have SPICE-250 ER, which is better than HAMMER. The indigenous NASM-MR is superior to the outdated Exocet anti-ship missile. The indigenous Rudram series is better than what Dassault would offer. The only remaining options are Spectra, Meteor, and SCALP, which I have already mentioned in my morning comment. If Dassault wants to sell more Rafales under MRFA, then they have to bend, whether it is for indigenous weapon/sensor integration or third-party integration.

Well IAF did opt for Hammer over Spice back in 2021 or so (though that decision was said to be taken due to operational urgency). And NASM-MR and Rudram are not yet operational. We don't know when they will be. And even when operational it will take a long time to integrate them on Rafale. Astra hasn't been integrated on even Tejas till now. First orders were placed about 8 years ago for that missile. So it's a long wait.

 

[Akshat]

Air-to-air missiles are no joke; it took even a country like China over 10-15 years to make their first air-to-air missiles, some SD-10 IIRC.

But Astra Mk3 isn't our first missile, right? Our first A2A missile was Astra Mk1, which took some 30 years. This is our third attempt at it. And after some 12 years, we still haven't even fired it once.

 

[coke]

We have scalp for now and DRDO is accelerating air launched nirbhay which is cheap and capable enough to destroy in long range

 

[OlegO]

Dear gentlemen, "without crossing the border" cannot be won. Is the "fixed idea". "...missiles with 300-400 km range" What is the enemy doing for 5-6 minutes? Regards.