First US-Made Tamir Interceptor Missile Delivered to Israel – Israel Defense

First US-Made Tamir Interceptor Missile Delivered to Israel  Israel Defense

The United States has delivered to Israel the first Tamir interceptor missile fully manufactured and assembled on American soil, at the Raytheon and Rafael facility in East Camden, Arkansas. Produced in Arkansas by a Rafael and Raytheon joint venture, the interceptor establishes a secondary production line to expand Iron Dome stocks. According to a report in Army Recognition, the delivery announcement took place on October 7, 2026, marking the first time a complete Tamir missile was produced outside Israel. The delivery establishes a new production source for the Iron Dome air defense system, expands industrial capacity to replenish interceptor stockpiles, and creates a second manufacturing site for one of Israel's most widely used defense missiles.

The missile was handed over to the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in the Ministry of Defense during a ceremony attended by officials from both nations. Until now, American companies produced components under bilateral co-production agreements, while final assembly was conducted in Israel. The new facility enables full U.S. manufacturing to expand Israeli stockpiles. The plant operates under R2S, a joint venture between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX. The facility opened in November 2025 following a $63 million investment and is expected to generate up to 60 jobs, after construction began in February 2024. In November 2025, the joint venture