Raytheon-Rafael's joint venture delivered the first Tamir interceptor for Israel's Iron Dome air defense system built entirely in the United States. The Camden, Arkansas plant opened in November 2025 and holds a $1.25 billion contract to supply Israel with Tamir missiles and components.
What's happening
- R2S, the Raytheon-Rafael joint venture, handed over the first U.S.-built Tamir interceptor to Israel's Missile Defense Organization at a ceremony at the Camden plant in October 2026.
- The Camden facility broke ground in February 2024, opened in November 2025, and represents the first site outside Israel to manufacture complete Tamir interceptors.
- R2S raised its planned investment in the facility from $33 million to approximately $63 million and expanded expected workforce from 30 to as many as 60 jobs.
- The plant will also produce SkyHunter, the U.S. variant chosen for the Marine Corps' Medium-Range Intercept Capability program.
Why it matters
- Domestic production of Iron Dome interceptors reduces reliance on Israeli manufacturing and embeds air defense capacity within the U.S. industrial base.
- The contract establishes a sustainable production line for both Israeli and U.S. military air defense systems, supporting two allied programs simultaneously.
- Raytheon and Rafael have co-produced Tamir components for over a decade under U.S. workshare requirements; full-round assembly in Arkansas consolidates that supply chain.
Going deeper
- Iron Dome has conducted more than 10,000 operational interceptions over 15 years of service, including in recent regional conflicts, validating the system's operational track record.
- Iron Dome is one of three Israeli air defense programs co-developed with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, alongside David's Sling and the Arrow system.
Financial impact
- R2S received a $1.25 billion direct commercial sales contract to supply Israel with Tamir missiles, missile kits and test equipment when the plant opened in November 2025; this is the joint venture's first production contract.
- Revenue recognition for the $1.25 billion contract will span multiple quarters or fiscal years as missiles and kits are delivered, with timing of deliveries not disclosed.
The fine print
- The ministry did not disclose how many Tamirs the plant will produce or when subsequent deliveries are due.
- The Camden line builds complete interceptors under domestic U.S. manufacturing, whereas prior co-production involved assembly of parts made in both countries.
Source: defence-blog.com · Oct 8, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.
