On Wednesday, the first US-manufactured Tamir interceptors for Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system were delivered at a ceremony in East Camden, Arkansas, marking a significant milestone in US-Israel defense cooperation, the Israeli Embassy in Washington announced on Thursday.
The interceptors were produced at the newly established Raytheon-Rafael Protection Systems (R2S) facility in Camden, which opened in November 2025 and represents the first US production line for Tamir interceptors used by the Iron Dome system.
The event was attended by Israeli Defense Attaché to the United States Maj.-Gen. Tal Politis, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Republican Senator Tom Cotton, representatives from Israel’s Defense Ministry and Israel Missile Defense Organization, senior American defense officials, and executives from Rafael and Raytheon.
“Iron Dome is not just a military tool or a defense system. It is a symbol of the security of our nation and our people,” said Politis. “Iron Dome keeps us safe and resilient, and the Israeli-American alliance makes us even stronger.”
The Camden facility reflects continued collaboration between the US and Israel on missile defense development and production. According to the embassy, Tamir interceptors have played a vital role in protecting Israeli civilians and approximately 250,000 Americans residing in Israel from rocket and missile threats in recent years.
The new manufacturing capability adds an additional source of interceptors for Israel while also meeting American defense needs. The facility will additionally produce SkyHunter, the US variant of the Tamir interceptor, for the US Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) air defense system.
The US Marine Corps has already been testing Iron Dome-based air defense technologies, including the MRIC system, as part of efforts to enhance protection against aerial threats.
Arkansas facility expands US-Israel missile defense production
The ceremony took place on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, underscoring the importance of defensive systems designed to protect both Israeli civilians and American military personnel.
“On the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, I also want to take a moment to remember the more than 1,000 Israelis, Americans, and citizens of other countries who were brutally attacked, kidnapped, and murdered in the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust,” said Cotton.
“This joint venture, bringing together some of the leading companies in the United States and Israel, advances the national security and economic prosperity of both our countries,” he added.
Sanders, who attended the facility’s groundbreaking in 2024 and its official opening in November 2025, praised the completion of the first American-made interceptors.
“I was grateful for the opportunity to break ground on this facility in 2024, to cut the ribbon last November, and, today, to celebrate the completion of the first Tamir missiles produced here in the Natural State,” Sanders said.
“The ongoing partnership between the state of Arkansas, the community of Camden, and R2S is special, and I look forward to more announcements like this in the future.”
The $63 million facility is expected to create up to 60 jobs and increase interceptor production capacity to meet rising air defense demands across the US, Israel, and allied nations.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon join together for R2S
R2S is a joint venture between Israeli defense manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX. Rafael and Israel’s Defense Ministry developed Iron Dome, while Raytheon has collaborated with Rafael for years on interceptor production and technology integration.
The establishment of the Arkansas manufacturing facility was announced in 2023 as part of an initiative to expand production capabilities for Iron Dome interceptors within the United States.
Rafael has also reportedly explored expanding Iron Dome interceptor production to India, reflecting broader efforts to diversify manufacturing capacity beyond existing facilities in Israel and the US.
The US-Israel defense relationship has long supported the development and production of Iron Dome technology, with American funding and industrial cooperation contributing to the system’s growth since it entered operational service in 2011.
The delivery of the first US-made Tamir interceptors marks another step in that cooperation, enhancing production capacity for air defense systems intended to protect civilians and military personnel in both countries.
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