Raytheon-Rafael delivers first US-built Iron Dome Tamir interceptor to Israel

The first fully U.S.-built Tamir interceptor for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system has been handed over to the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), marking the first time complete Tamir interceptors have been manufactured outside Israel.

The handover took place this week at the Raytheon-Rafael Area Protection Systems (R2S) facility in East Camden, Arkansas, as part of the cooperative U.S.-Israel program to strengthen Israel’s missile defenses.

The Israel Ministry of Defense Spokesperson’s Unit said the ceremony marked the delivery of the “first fully American-made Tamir interceptor to the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), within the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), as part of the cooperative U.S.-Israel program for the defense of Israel.”

The Camden facility was built specifically to produce Tamir interceptors for Iron Dome, which has defended Israel against a wide range of threats, including during recent regional conflicts.

According to the ministry, “The Camden facility was built to produce Tamir interceptors for Iron Dome, which has defended Israel against a wide range of threats, including in recent regional conflicts. It is the first production site outside Israel to manufacture complete Tamir interceptors.”

The R2S joint venture between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon Technologies is intended to expand production capacity while strengthening the U.S.-Israel defense relationship.

The ministry said the partnership “reflects the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel in missile defense, advancing work-sharing between the two countries' defense industries, creating numerous American jobs, and strengthening U.S. security and the defense industrial base.”

Construction on the East Camden facility began in February 2024, and the factory became operational in November 2025 following an initial investment of $63 million. The company subsequently received a $1.25 billion direct commercial sales contract to supply the IDF with Tamir interceptor missiles, missile kits and test equipment.

The facility is also scheduled to begin production of SkyHunter, the U.S. version of the Tamir selected for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability program. The system is designed to defend against threats including cruise missiles, aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars.

Shlomo Toaff, Rafael Executive Vice President and Head of the Air and Missile Defense Division, highlighted the significance of the new production line during the ceremony.

"Today, for the first time, Tamir is being built outside Israel, here in Camden. We are proud to have turned this facility into a working production line. For the customers who depend on Tamir, that means another reliable source. For the US Marine Corps, it supports SkyHunter. For Rafael, this is how we want to grow in America: Israeli engineering, American production, each making the other stronger.”

Since its first operational deployments in 2011, the Iron Dome system has recorded more than 10,000 operational interceptions, a large percentage of which have occurred during the past three years of the Swords of Iron War.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders was among the honored guests. Other attendees included U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Deputy Director and Acting Director for Test Maj. Gen. Jason D. Cothern; IDF Military Attaché in Washington Maj. Gen. Tal Politis; Consul General of Israel to the Southwest Adi Farjon; IMDO Director Moshe Patel; Toaff; and R2S CEO Jonathan Casey.