Israel has signed a major contract with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to boost Iron Dome interceptor output as the country confronts increasing rocket, drone, and missile threats. The multibillion-dollar deal calls for a large procurement of Tamir interceptors, the Iron Dome’s primary missile used extensively in recent conflicts to protect civilian and strategic areas.
The agreement follows months of collaborative planning involving the Israel Missile Defense Organization, the US Missile Defense Agency, and Rafael. It is directly supported by the $8.7-billion US emergency security package passed in April 2024, which dedicated $5.2 billion to strengthening Israel’s air- and missile-defense architecture. Funding also supports the expansion of cutting-edge systems such as David’s Sling and the Iron Beam laser-interception program.
This new award comes as Israel deepens its defense-industrial ties with US companies. Recently, the Raytheon-Rafael joint venture R2S secured a $1.25-billion order to deliver additional Tamir interceptors and began establishing a $33-million manufacturing center in Camden, Arkansas. The site is expected to significantly shorten production timelines and improve supply sustainability.
In addition to supporting Iron Dome, the Arkansas facility will later produce SkyHunter missiles—the US variant of the Tamir—for the Marine Corps’ short-range air-defense requirements. Together, these initiatives expand interceptor production capacity, strengthen US-Israel defense cooperation, and ensure steady missile availability for high-tempo operational demands.
