The companies established the plant through their Raytheon-Rafael Area Protection Systems (R2S) joint venture to build manufacturing capacity in the United States. The factory expands a partnership that has supported Tamir production for more than a decade under U.S. workshare requirements for Iron Dome.
IMDO Director Moshe Patel said the production line forms part of efforts to accelerate manufacturing across Israel’s missile defense systems. Rafael said the facility creates American jobs and strengthens the U.S. defense industrial base.
“As part of IMDO’s efforts to accelerate production across all missile defense systems, this new production line represents a significant step in strengthening the shared production capabilities of Israel and the United States,” Patel said. “U.S. BMD funding for U.S.-Israeli cooperative missile defense programs, including emergency supplemental funding, is reinvested in the U.S. industrial base, strengthening production capacity, deepening our partnership with MDA and the U.S. Government, and enhancing both nations’ ability to protect their citizens.”
Tamir was developed under IMDO’s leadership, with Rafael as prime contractor, and serves as Iron Dome’s interceptor. According to Rafael, Iron Dome has recorded more than 10,000 operational interceptions in 15 years of service.
“Today, for the first time, Tamir is being built outside Israel, here in Camden,” said Shlomo Toaff, Rafael’s executive vice president and head of its Air and Missile Defense Division. “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,” Toaff said. “For the U.S. Marine Corps, it supports SkyHunter.”
IMDO is responsible for the Israeli Air Force’s air and missile defense architecture and works with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency on cooperative programs. Together with the agency and defense companies in both countries, it leads the development and co-production of David’s Sling and Arrow, and the co-production of Iron Dome.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders attended the ceremony alongside U.S. Missile Defense Agency Deputy Director and Acting Director for Test Maj. Gen. Jason D. Cothern. Israeli military and diplomatic officials, Patel, Toaff and R2S CEO Jonathan Casey also attended.
