Israel Awards $1.25B Contract for Tamir Missiles to Raytheon–Rafael Venture

Raytheon-Rafael Protection Systems (R2S) has secured a $1.25 billion contract to supply Israel with Tamir surface-to-air missiles.

The deal, structured as a direct commercial sale, covers missiles, missile kits and test equipment for Israel’s air-defense network.

The award follows a $33 million capital investment used to establish a new R2S production facility in East Camden, Arkansas, which opened earlier this month. The site was created to support the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) under the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development. According to the companies, the new facility is intended to accelerate serial production of Iron Dome interceptors.

The Camden site will manufacture Tamir missiles for the Iron Dome Weapon System and SkyHunter, the U.S. variant used in the Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability program.

Rafael developed Iron Dome, which has been operational since 2011. The system has intercepted thousands of incoming threats with a reported success rate above 95%. Raytheon and Rafael have cooperated on Iron Dome programs for more than a decade. SkyHunter, the U.S. version of the Tamir interceptor, is designed to counter cruise missiles, aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars.