Raytheon-Rafael JV Breaks Ground for Tamir Missile Production Facility in U.S.

R2S, a joint venture between RTX’s Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense System, has initiated the construction of its Tamir missile manufacturing facility in East Camden, Arkansas.

The facility will produce Tamir missiles for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its variant, the SkyHunter missile, intended for use by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. allies, R2S said in a statement.

This development signifies a $63 million investment by R2S and is expected to generate up to 60 new jobs in the region. The facility will complement RTX’s existing production capacity at the Highland Industrial Park.

Currently, Tamir missiles are produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Israel, with RTX Corp. components manufactured in Arizona. Each Tamir missile is estimated to cost between $40,000 to $50,000.

Company representatives, alongside Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and state officials, announced the project in October 2023. In the same month, the Pentagon reportedly delivered the first batch of missiles from U.S. inventories to Israel for the Iron Dome air-defense system, aimed at intercepting Hamas rockets.

Hamas has launched numerous rockets at Israel, constituting some of the largest barrages against the Iron Dome systems deployed for the country's protection. The system is mobile and, as of mid-2021, Israel had ten batteries deployed throughout the country. Israel asserts a hit rate of over 90% against hostile targets.

The Iron Dome comprises three main components: the Tamir interceptor and its launcher, the ELM 2084 Multimission Radar (MMR), and a battle management and weapon control system (BMC). A missile battery, consisting of three to four launchers and radar, can defend an area of almost 150 square kilometers. Each launcher is capable of carrying up to 20 Tamir interceptor missiles.

The Iron Dome can detect and engage targets at ranges of up to 70 km. The Tamir interceptor is 3 meters long, 0.16 meters in diameter, and weighs 90 kg at launch. It utilizes a command datalink and onboard active radar seeker for guidance, employing a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead to destroy targets.