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Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000H/TH's SPICE 2000 PGMs

The Rafael SPICE 2000 is an electro-optically guided munition with additional GPS and inertial guidance methods. It's based on a 2000 pound bomb body (Mk.84, BLU-109 or RAP-2000) hence it's 2000 designation. The bomb has an advertised range of 60km which is lesser than the SPICE 1000's and SPICE 250's 100km advertised range, this is due to the fact that the SPICE 2000 is a much larger bomb with a bigger warhead and also due to deployable wings not being present unlike it's smaller brothers.

The SPICE 2000's primary guidance method is with it's CCD and IIR seeker for day and night targetting, either the target imagery, topographical sources surrounding the target and it's co-ordinates are fed to bomb's memory banks by the ground crew before the flight or the WSO/Pilot of the carrier aircraft acquires the target in flight and the above data is fed to bomb before launch. The bomb correlates the image in it's memory to the image of the potential target on it's seekers FOV along with it's topographical surroundings, when it get's a positive ID it locks on to the target. This method of guidance is known as DSMAC or Digitial Scene-Matching Area Correlator.

If due to adverse weather the electro-optical seeker cannot acquire targets, the bomb automatically switches to GPS guidance, where-in it locks onto the target co-ordinates. If the GPS signal is also jammed then the bomb guides itself to the target via intertial guidance.

Addtionally the bomb can be manually guided to the target by the Pilot or WSO of the aircraft. In this method the seeker imagery is fed to the MFD of the aircraft and the pilot guides the bomb to the target through this imagery. A skilled WSO can accurately guide the bomb to the target and even moving targets can be engaged.

In the IAF this PGM is as of this moment only rated for the Mirage 2000 and would be carried on the centre-line fuselage station with the wing stations reserved for the drop-tanks and short-range missiles. The PGM should have been acquired as a whole instead of just the strap-on guidance kit as IAF doesn't have any known 2000lb bombs in service. When this PGM was acquired and how many were acquired is not known, although it was rumoured in the defence circles that the PGM was in service with the IAF. this is the first solid proof of it's existence. They are the most advanced known PGM in service with the IAF and would supposedly only be used against strategic targets because of their relatively high cost. They were sighted during the munitions display done by the IAF during Iron Fist 2016. Rafael has been trying to sell their smaller SPICE 250 for some time now and even displayed a model of the Mirage 2000 with all 3 of their SPICE PGM variants, LITENING LDP, Derby BVRAAM and Python 5 SRAAM. Recently it was announced that India would go ahead with a deal for LITENING 4i LDPs and an undisclosed number of SPICE 250 PGMs.

In Photos
Top - File Photo of SPICE 2000
Bottom Left - Placard of the SPICE 2000 shown at Iron Fist 2016.
Bottom Right - A SPICE 2000 on display with it's fins removed.

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From Tejas-India's MRCA
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Indian Air Forces The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) performs during the rehearsal for the Air Force Day parade at Hindan Air Force base in Ghaziabad.


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President's Secretariat
07-October, 2016 13:32 IST
President of India greets Indian Air Force on the eve of ITS 84th Anniversary

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee greeted the Indian Air Force on the eve of its 84th Anniversary (October 8, 2016).

In a message, the President has said “I am happy to know that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is celebrating its 84th Anniversary on October 8, 2016.

The nation is proud of the capability and competency of the IAF. Over the last eight decades, the IAF has emerged as an immensely professional and combat-ready force. It has achieved distinction in defending our skies and delivering vital humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The brave men and women in blue have displayed incredible courage and determination in the discharge of their duties, acquitting themselves with great élan.

I am confident that the ongoing process of modernisation will transform the IAF into an even more potent and strategic force that can take on all future challenges. I am sure the IAF will remain ever vigilant in protecting our skies and continue to maintain its cherished standards of excellence.

On this occasion, I extend my greetings and felicitations to all personnel of the Indian Air Force, civilians and their families. I wish them continued success in the years ahead”.

*****
 
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha inspects the guard of honour during IAF day parade at Hindon air base, on Saturday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

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