US-built interceptor delivered for system that recorded more than 10,000 operational interceptions

The first Iron Dome Tamir Interceptor, which was fully produced in the U.S., has been delivered to Israel. Tamir is the interceptor of the Iron Dome air and missile defense system.

Raytheon-Rafael facility in Arkansas delivered the interceptor to the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO)

At a ceremony held at the Raytheon-Rafael Area Protection Systems (R2S) facility in East Camden, Arkansas, the first Tamir interceptor fully built and assembled on U.S. soil was delivered to IMDO.

Tamir interceptors for Iron Dome

The Camden facility was built to produce Tamir interceptors for Iron Dome, which has defended Israel against a wide range of threats, including in recent regional conflicts. It is the first production site outside Israel to manufacture complete Tamir interceptors.

The facility was established by Rafael in partnership with Raytheon through their R2S joint venture, as part of a production agreement to build manufacturing capabilities in the United States. It reflects the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel in missile defense, advancing work-sharing between the two countries’ defense industries, creating numerous American jobs, and strengthening U.S. security and the defense industrial base.

“Israel’s multi-layered missile defense array, and Iron Dome in particular, has repeatedly demonstrated in recent years its crucial role in saving lives and reducing damage from a wide range of threats,” said Moshe Patel, Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), DDR&D, Israel Ministry of Defense.

“As part of IMDO’s efforts to accelerate production across all missile defense systems, this new production line represents a significant step in strengthening the shared production capabilities of Israel and the United States. U.S. BMD funding for U.S.-Israeli cooperative missile defense programs, including emergency supplemental funding, is reinvested in the U.S. industrial base, strengthening production capacity, deepening our partnership with MDA and the U.S. Government, and enhancing both nations’ ability to protect their citizens.”

More than 10,000 operational interceptions

The Tamir interceptor was developed under the leadership of IMDO, with Rafael as prime contractor. Iron Dome has recorded more than 10,000 operational interceptions over 15 years of service. Rafael and Raytheon have cooperated on Tamir interceptor production as part of U.S. workshare requirements for Iron Dome for more than a decade.

“When we started developing Iron Dome, a lot of people said it couldn’t be done. Our engineers proved them wrong. Fifteen years after its first operational interception, Iron Dome has made more than 10,000 successful interceptions, saving lives, and at the heart of it all is the Tamir interceptor,” said Shlomo Toaff, Rafael Executive Vice President and Head of the Air and Missile Defense Division.

“Today, for the first time, Tamir is being built outside Israel, here in Camden. We are proud to have turned this facility into a working production line. For the customers who depend on Tamir, that means another reliable source. For the U.S. Marine Corps, it supports SkyHunter. For Rafael, this is how we want to grow in America: Israeli engineering, American production, each making the other stronger. I want to thank our partners at R2S and Raytheon, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Israel Missile Defense Organization for their trust and support.”

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-built-interceptor-delivered-system