US Begins Production of Missiles for Iron Dome; Israel Places Order Using US Aid

The US has begun production of interceptor missiles for Israel’s Iron Dome system. Israel immediately placed an order for $1.25 billion worth of interceptors, financed with US aid.

Breaking Defense reported on this.

The American company Raytheon and Israeli firm Rafael have officially opened a new US facility to produce Iron Dome interceptors. Construction began at the end of 2023 and cost the companies $33 million.

According to the report, the announcement came just hours after the Israeli Ministry of Defense revealed a “multi-billion dollar contract” with Rafael for the supply of new Tamir anti-air missiles.

“The signing of this historic contract is a strategic step that will significantly strengthen our air defense capabilities against adversaries seeking to threaten Israel’s security,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz shared.

The Iron Dome funding is part of an $8.7 billion aid package approved by the US Congress in April 2024, including $5.2 billion earmarked for air defense assets. The signing ceremony for the new contract took place in Tel Aviv at the Defense Ministry headquarters with US military attaché Major General Aaron Drake and key Israeli defense officials in attendance.

Raytheon said it had already received a $1.25 billion contract to supply Tamir interceptors to Israel for use in Iron Dome.

Rafael did not clarify whether the $1.25 billion deal with R2S is part of the Ministry’s overall contract. However, a company spokesperson said that part of the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s investment is directed toward producing Tamir interceptors in the United States through R2S.

In addition to producing Tamir missiles, the new facility will also manufacture SkyHunter interceptors adapted for the US Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) system.

Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC)

MRIC is a new US medium-range air defense system under testing for the Marine Corps.

The system was developed to enhance air defense for Marine Corps units that may operate beyond the reach of ship-based air defense, missile defense systems, and aviation.

According to US Navy contracting plans, an MRIC battery consists of 11 firing units. Each unit includes four trailer launchers carrying transport-launch containers for 20 missiles, along with an AN/TPS-80 radar station. Equipped with SkyHunter missiles, the system can intercept high-speed targets, including ballistic missiles, at ranges from 4 to 70 kilometers.