Rafael and Lockheed Martin accelerate SPICE 1000 integration on Israeli F-35s
In the United States, Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Lockheed Martin are working to accelerate the integration of the SPICE 1000 precision-guided munition on Israeli Air Force F-35 Adir fighter jets. The joint project is being carried out at Lockheed Martin facilities in the United States, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Rafael announced the integration work during the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air Space & Cyber conference in Washington. The acceleration of the program was also mentioned in a Pentagon report on F-35 modernization released in early August. The document states that integration of the Israeli SPICE 1000B is ongoing and that its implementation is planned to be accelerated under the SPICE Lite procedure.
SPICE 1000 characteristics
SPICE is a family of long-range tactical guided munitions with electro-optical guidance. The SPICE 1000 kit has a range of up to 125 kilometers thanks to fold-out wings and a circular error probable of up to three meters. The system is equipped with an electro-optical seeker and navigation and guidance systems for striking targets in the absence of a GPS signal.
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Rafael stated that SPICE 1000 is in service with several air forces and has been one of the Israeli Air Force’s main munitions for several years. According to the company, it has been widely used during recent long-range operations from F-15 and F-16 aircraft. At a later stage, other F-35 operators may also receive SPICE 1000.
Upgrades to Israeli F-35s
In January 2026, Israel received three F-35s with the Technology Refresh 3 hardware upgrade. This program modernizes the fighter jet’s core computing infrastructure ahead of the start of Block 4 production. According to the Jerusalem Post, SPICE 1000 is planned to be carried in the internal weapons bay of TR-3-equipped aircraft.
According to Lockheed Martin, the Block 4 modernization includes more than 70 major upgrades for the three F-35 variants, including an increased missile loadout, expanded electronic warfare capabilities, and improved target recognition. The Pentagon report also states that work is ongoing to integrate extended-range external fuel tanks and electronic warfare pods for Israeli F-35s, without specified timelines for their implementation.
