Opinion | Spice power
1 min read . Updated: 07 Jun 2019, 04:59 PM ISTThe Indian Air Force has inked a $43 million deal to procure an advanced “bunker-buster” version of Spice-2000 bombs manufactured by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense System
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has inked a $43 million deal to procure an advanced “bunker-buster" version of Spice-2000 bombs manufactured by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense System. According to government sources, under the contract, India will acquire 100 of these equipped with Mark-84 warheads that could reduce enemy buildings and bunkers to rubble in a flash. If the name is familiar, it’s because these were used in the Balakot air attack on a terror training camp in Pakistani territory. In this familiarity lies a message for India’s neighbour: What happened then could happen again. The armed forces are ready to reload their arsenal with weapons that can hit precision targets with the aid of high-tech guidance systems.
The term “Spice" is an acronym for “Smart, Precise, Impact and Cost-Effective". With a stand-off range of 60 km, it is a highly sophisticated piece of weaponry. Precise coordinates can be targeted and tough shields of reinforced concrete and the like can be penetrated.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s stance on Pakistan-sponsored terror has taken a turn towards a doctrine that exercises considerably less restraint in responding to provocations. National security was a major element of Modi’s campaign theme as well. Some of the warnings issued to Islamabad may only have been tough-on-terror rhetoric for domestic audiences. With the Spice-2000 order, however, it is clear that New Delhi will not hesitate from delivering a “muh-tod jawaab" (jaw-breaking response) to aggressors in the event of any further cross-border terrorism. The point is deterrence. As with nukes, the real power of a weapon lies in its existence rather than use.