The signing took place at the ministry’s headquarters under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Israel Katz, who oversaw a ceremony attended by senior officials from the IMOD, DDR&D, the U.S. Defence Attaché, and Rafael. According to the ministry, the order will increase the supply of interceptors for both the IMOD and the IDF.
The deal follows negotiations led by the Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization, Moshe Patel, alongside counterparts at the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Rafael executive Shlomo Toaff. Patel stated: “This agreement will secure the continuous production of Iron Dome interceptors to protect the State of Israel.”
The IMOD noted that the contract aligns with the $8.7 billion U.S. aid package approved in April 2024, which includes $5.2 billion for Israel’s air defence systems. This funding supports Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the high-powered Laser Defense System now in final development.
Iron Dome, jointly developed with the U.S. government, is designed to intercept short and medium-range rockets, missiles, and UAVs. The ministry said the system “has exhibited outstanding performance with remarkable interception rates” during the recent conflict, helping shield Israel’s civilian areas.
Rafael serves as the prime contractor for Iron Dome and works in partnership with ELTA Systems, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries, and mPrest. The ministry added that cooperation with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency remains central to Israel’s multi-layered defence architecture, supporting systems such as David’s Sling and Arrow while sustaining long-term technological advantage.
