Security Milestone: First Iron Dome Interceptor Fully Made in the U.S.

A milestone in defense cooperation between Israel and the United States: Israel’s Defense Ministry has received the first Tamir interceptor for the Iron Dome system to be fully manufactured and assembled on U.S. soil. The interceptor was delivered to the Homa Administration at the Directorate of Defense Research and Development after being completed at the R2S plant, the joint venture of Rafael and Raytheon, in East Camden, Arkansas.

This is the first facility outside Israel to carry out the full production of Tamir interceptors. It was established to increase production volumes, strengthen the shared industrial infrastructure, and enable the purchase of interceptors using U.S. security-assistance funds.

The project combines Rafael’s technology and engineering with Raytheon’s manufacturing capabilities, expanding an industrial partnership that has lasted for more than a decade. Alongside interceptors intended for the IDF, the site also produces the American SkyHunter version, designed for the U.S. Marine Corps’ MRIC system.

Moshe Patel, head of the Homa Administration at the Directorate of Defense Research and Development, noted at the ceremony that part of the U.S. security assistance provided to Israel returns to American industry. According to Patel, the move deepens cooperation with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the U.S. government, while strengthening the defense capabilities of both countries.

Shlomo Toaff, senior vice president and head of Rafael’s Air Defense Division, reflected at the ceremony on the journey of the Iron Dome system, from the skepticism that accompanied its early development to the establishment of the U.S. production line, which combines Israeli engineering with American manufacturing capabilities. Meanwhile, according to the figures presented, the Iron Dome system has recorded more than 10,000 successful interceptions against a range of threats during its 15 years of operation.