The IndianAir Force (IAF) hammered out Rs. 300crore deal with Israel on Thursday foraround 100 Spice 2000 bombs which was used during the February 26 air strikesin Pakistan's Balakot. The information has been provided by two defenceministry officials on the condition of anonymity.

RafaelAdvanced Defence Systems, an Israeli defence firm manufactures the weapon. The officialsinformed that this is the first military contract to be inked by the new government.He said that the bombs are an emergency purchase and likely to be delivered bythe year-end and that the bombs are a critical operational requirement.

The IAF'sMirage 2000 fighters hit three targets in Balakot carried out against the JeMterror base after the Pakistan based terrorists group carried out a terrorattack in Pulwama on February 14 where more than 40 CRPF jawans have beenkilled. The IAF hit three targets in Balakot with five Spice bombs withpenetrator warheads that allowed them to pierce through the rooftops beforeexploding inside to cause maximum damage.

However,Pakistan has refused to acknowledge the damage caused by the IAF'sunprecedented, peace-time cross-border strike. IAF Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoawhile commenting to a media house said that Indian fighter planes had strucktheir intended targets with precision.

After theIAF carried out the air strike, Pakistan Air Force fighters made a failedattempt to bomb Indian military installations on Fenruary 27 leading to anaerial engagement along the LoC during which an Indian combat jet was shot downand its pilot captured and briefly detained by Pakistan.