NEW DELHI, December 31, 2025 — The Indian Ministry of Defence’s recent decision to approve an $8.8 billion defense package has sparked a heated debate within the strategic community. At the heart of the controversy is the procurement of Israeli SPICE-1000 glide bomb kits, a move that critics argue undermines the imminent induction of the DRDO-developed Gaurav Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB).
While the “Make in India” initiative remains a government priority, military experts suggest that the “super expensive” Israeli tech offers critical capabilities that the indigenous Gaurav currently lacks.
The Capability Gap: Why Spice Still Wins
Although the DRDO’s Gaurav has shown impressive results in recent trials—demonstrating a range of 100 km with “pinpoint accuracy”—there are fundamental technological differences that make the SPICE-1000 indispensable for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in high-stakes scenarios.
Feature SPICE-1000 (Israel) Gaurav (DRDO)
Guidance System Hybrid: GPS/INS + Electro-Optical (EO/IR) Hybrid: GPS + Inertial Navigation (INS)
Targeting Tech Scene Matching (ATA): Autonomous image recognition Relies on GPS/INS and target illumination
GPS-Denied Ops High: Can hit targets even if GPS is jammed Limited: Accuracy drops significantly if GPS is lost
Flexibility 100 mission profiles; “Man-in-the-loop” option Predetermined flight path; less adaptability
Combat Proven Extensively used (including Balakot) Currently in induction/trial phase
1. The “Scene Matching” Advantage
The SPICE-1000 is not just a “smart” bomb; it is an intelligent one. Its Automatic Target Acquisition (ATA) technology uses a seeker to “see” the terrain and match it against stored satellite imagery. This means if an adversary like China or Pakistan jams GPS signals during a conflict, the SPICE bomb can still find its target with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 3 meters.
In contrast, the Gaurav currently relies heavily on GPS and INS. Without the advanced electro-optical seeker found in the Israeli kits, it is more vulnerable to electronic warfare.
2. Operational Reliability and Integration
The SPICE family is already fully integrated into the IAF’s Mirage 2000 and Su-30MKI fleets. Having been famously used during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, the weapon has the “combat-proven” tag that provides pilots with the confidence required for deep-penetration missions.
3. The “Hybrid” Future
Defense officials clarify that the purchase is not a vote of no-confidence against DRDO. Instead, it is a bridge strategy.
Gaurav is intended to be the “workhorse” for saturating enemy defenses with high-volume, cost-effective strikes.
SPICE-1000 is the “scalpel” reserved for high-value, well-defended targets where mission failure is not an option.
The Road Ahead
While the Gaurav LRGB is expected to enter mass production with partners like Adani Defence and Bharat Forge by 2026, the IAF cannot afford a capability gap in the interim. As regional tensions remain high, the “expensive” Israeli kits provide a guaranteed edge in the “First Day of War” scenarios.
