SPICE-250ER vs SPEAR

[eloise]

Rafael introduced an extended range version of Spice-250, named SPICE-250ER with a turbojet engine
Overall, it is very similar to Spear mini cruise missile introduced by MBDA.

The main differences between Spice 250ER and Spear are:
Sensor: Spear uses MMW radar and semi active laser homing while Spice 250ER uses EO seeker
Inlet: Spear has a flush inlet similar to LRASM while Spice 250ER has a protruding inlet similar to JSM
Control surface: Spear has 3 control tails while Spice 250ER has 4 control tails

[ricnunes]

From what I see, the "best of the two" depends on which target they are or will be used against.
For example:
- Against moving targets during bad weather (such as dense fog) or other obscurants, the SPEAR should definitely be better due to the MMW radar seeker.
- For high precision strikes against static targets (for example, hitting a specific point of the static target such as a window) located far or very far away (long range) the SPICE-250ER would be better due to its EO seeker together with the pre-loaded target imagery.
In order for the SPEAR to have the same high precision strike ability against static targets the launching aircraft must be much closer to the target which would then 'paint' the target's "point of interest" using Laser aimed by a TGP (or internal EOTS in the case of the F-35).

As such I would give a slight edge to SPEAR mostly due to the MMW radar seeker which together with the Laser seeker seems to give the capability to somehow be able to engage a larger variety of targets.

[element1loop]

Which one would be more lethal/useful

The one that can be built faster in larger numbers and more affordably would tend to be the more "useful", but that does not mean more effective ... so ... what's the target?

[eloise]

Which one would be more lethal/useful

The one that can be built faster in larger numbers and more affordably would tend to be the more "useful", but that does not mean more effective ... so ... what's the target?

Air defense radars, ship, that sort of thing

[timmymagic]

From what I see, the "best of the two" depends on which target they are or will be used against.
For example:
- Against moving targets during bad weather (such as dense fog) or other obscurants, the SPEAR should definitely be better due to the MMW radar seeker.
- For high precision strikes against static targets (for example, hitting a specific point of the static target such as a window) located far or very far away (long range) the SPICE-250ER would be better due to its EO seeker together with the pre-loaded target imagery.
In order for the SPEAR to have the same high precision strike ability against static targets the launching aircraft must be much closer to the target which would then 'paint' the target's "point of interest" using Laser aimed by a TGP (or internal EOTS in the case of the F-35).

As such I would give a slight edge to SPEAR mostly due to the MMW radar seeker which together with the Laser seeker seems to give the capability to somehow be able to engage a larger variety of targets.

This is a good summary. I'd bet my house on Spear getting a Tri-Mode seeker in the near future as well (E/O, MMW and SAL) as that was one of the earlier goals (as it was with SDBII as well). At that point Spear cleans up, particularly if the family of Spear variants (EW, Glide and others) come to fruition.