Rafael Begins Work On Indigenous F-35 Guided Weapons

Israel is planning to adopt indigenously-built Stand-Off guided weapons for the F-35 fighters they are buying.

Rafael has begun work to merge the Spice 1000 Electro-Optically, Stand-Off guided weapon to bomber, according to C4Defence.

The aircraft will be able to carry the weapon in either internal or external configuration. The electronic warfare, data links and specific software modes developed for the Israeli air force will remain unique to Israel and not delivered to any other user. The first will arrive in Israel in 2017.

Last year, Avaition Week reported that Israel has ordered 19 F-35s that will be equipped with Israeli electronic warfare equipment as part of a $2.75 billion deal that includes options for up to 75 jets.