R2S Secures Mega Contract to Launch Tamir Production in Camden, Arkansas
- Ritambhara K
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Credit: RTX
The Raytheon–Rafael Protection Systems (R2S) joint venture has reached a significant milestone with the award of a $1.25 billion contract to supply Israel with Tamir surface-to-air missiles, a critical component of the renowned Iron Dome air defense system.
Raytheon, part of RTX will oversee this major direct commercial sales agreement, which includes fully assembled missiles, missile kits, and specialized testing equipment needed to support ongoing defense operations.
This contract follows the companies’ $33 million investment into creating a new, state-of-the-art production facility in East Camden, Arkansas, which opened earlier this month. The facility was built in collaboration with the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), operating under the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D).
The goal of this partnership is to accelerate the serial production of Iron Dome interceptors at a time when demand for reliable, combat-proven defense technology continues to grow.
The new Camden plant will manufacture Tamir missiles for both the Iron Dome Weapon System used by Israel and SkyHunter, the U.S. variant of Tamir tailored for the Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) program. SkyHunter incorporates the same battle-tested interceptor technology, adapted to meet U.S. military requirements.
Jonathan Casey, CEO of R2S, highlighted the significance of the development, stating, “This is the first production contract for the R2S joint venture and a major milestone for both Raytheon and Rafael.
The new Camden site is the first all-up-round production facility in the United States capable of manufacturing Tamir and SkyHunter missiles.” The achievement marks a deepening of U.S.–Israeli defense cooperation and sets the stage for expanded production capacity on American soil.
The Iron Dome, developed by Rafael and operational since 2011, has become one of the world’s most effective air defense systems. Its remarkable record—intercepting thousands of incoming threats with a success rate above 95%—has earned it global recognition.
For more than a decade, Raytheon and Rafael have partnered closely to advance the system’s technology and ensure its availability for both Israeli and U.S. defense needs.
The U.S. version, SkyHunter, provides short- to medium-range protection against a wide span of aerial threats, including rockets, cruise missiles, artillery shells, mortars, and aircraft. With the new production facility now active, R2S is positioned to meet rising international demand for advanced, rapid-response interceptor systems.
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