Israeli weapons manufacturer Rafael has unveiled a kit that turns the 900kg (2,000lb) Mk84 free-fall bomb into a guided glide weapon. Described as the "poor man's Popeye", the Smart Precise Impact and Cost Effective (SPICE) kit has completed drop trials from Israeli air force aircraft.
A SPICE kit includes aerodynamic surfaces, a television seeker, a global positioning navigation system and a datalink. The camera allows the crew to control the weapon in the terminal phase of flight. SPICE has similarities to the US-manufactured GBU-15 but is cheaper and can be attached to a standard Mk84.
SPICE was designed for aircraft unable to carry its Popeye missile and is suitable for air forces with limited resources that need long-range precision-guided weapons.
Source: Flight International