In brief
The Iron Dome missile was handed over at an Arkansas plant, marking a shift from US component production to complete assembly, according to the report.
Israel's Missile Defense Organization has received the first Tamir interceptor manufactured entirely in the United States, RBC-Ukraine reported on October 9, citing The Jerusalem Post. The handover at Raytheon-Rafael Protection Systems' plant in East Camden, Arkansas, was announced on October 7.
The report described it as the first complete Tamir made outside Israel. Previously, US companies produced components while final assembly took place in Israel. Tamir is the main interceptor used by the Iron Dome air defence system.
R2S, a joint venture between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and RTX subsidiary Raytheon, opened the plant in November 2025. RBC-Ukraine reported investment of $63 million and plans to create up to 60 jobs. R2S also received a $1.25 billion contract that month for Tamir missiles, kits and test equipment for Israel.
The plant is also expected to produce SkyHunter, a US derivative of Tamir, for the US Marine Corps' Medium Range Intercept Capability programme. According to RBC-Ukraine, the companies have not disclosed annual production volumes.