Raytheon and Rafael’s R2S joint venture has won a $1.25-billion agreement to supply Israel with Tamir surface-to-air missiles, adding production kits and test equipment aimed at supporting Israel’s high-demand air defense requirements. The contract was announced alongside the opening of a new $33-million production plant in East Camden, Arkansas, created to support the Israel Missile Defense Organization’s push to boost Iron Dome interceptor output. The facility is now tasked with producing warheads for the Tamir interceptor, the core munition used by the Iron Dome system—an air defense network credited with neutralizing rockets, artillery shells, and short-range missiles since 2011 with a reported interception rate surpassing 95 percent. In the next phase, the Arkansas facility will also assemble SkyHunter, the Americanized version of Tamir selected by the US Marine Corps. SkyHunter is expected to provide a layered defensive capability against various threats, including drones, cruise missiles, and low-altitude aircraft. The R2S plant forms part of Raytheon’s extensive production ecosystem within Highland Industrial Park. Raytheon stated during the initial construction announcement that the facility is projected to generate up to 60 local jobs when fully active. The expansion in Camden is reinforced by another significant investment: a $400-million solid rocket motor production center unveiled in November. Set to span 110 acres and feature more than 20 buildings, the new campus is designed to expand Raytheon’s solid rocket motor production capacity by more than six times, greatly increasing its ability to support missile, interceptor, and hypersonic programs for the US military and partners. The motors produced will serve critical roles across next-generation air and missile defense systems, forming essential propulsion components for a wide range of advanced weapons.
