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Raytheon Missiles & Defense has partnered with Israeli-based Rafael in a joint venture to establish an Iron Dome Weapon System production facility in the US.
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The new partnership, called Raytheon Rafael Area Protection Systems, anticipates finalising a US-based manufacturing site location before the end of the year. The new facility will produce both the Iron Dome Weapon System, which consists of the Tamir interceptor and launcher, and the SkyHunter missile, a US derivative of Tamir.
Tamir and SkyHunter intercept incoming cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems and short-range targets such as rockets, artillery, mortars and other aerial threats.
Raytheon Missiles & Defense Systems' Sam Deneke, vice president of land warfare and air defence business execution, explained, “This will be the first Iron Dome all-up-round facility outside of Israel, and it will help the US Department of Defense and allies across the globe obtain the system for defense of their service members and critical infrastructure.”
Pini Yungman, executive vice president for air and missile defence of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, added, “We are excited about this new stage in our partnership with Raytheon and proud of our US production.”
Iron Dome detects, assesses and intercepts a variety of shorter-range targets such as rockets, artillery and mortars. It is effective day or night and in all weather conditions including low clouds, rain, dust storms and fog.
The system features a first-of-its-kind multi-mission launcher designed to fire a variety of interceptor missiles.
“We have long partnered on US production of Iron Dome and are pleased to increase manufacturing and bring SkyHunter to the US,” Yungman added.
Iron Dome’s Tamir missile knocks down incoming threats launched from ranges of 4-70 kilometres. Tamir missiles feature electro-optical sensors and steering fins with proximity fuse blast warheads. The majority of Tamir missile components are procured through the Raytheon Missiles & Defense supply chain in the US.
In 2019, the US Army announced its intent to buy two Iron Dome batteries to fill a need for an interim capability.
Given interest by the US and several other nations in Iron Dome’s unique capabilities, Raytheon Missiles & Defense has debuted the SkyHunter system in co-operation with Rafael.
Based on Iron Dome, SkyHunter can be produced in the US to expand availability and capacity for the US and its allies.
These systems protect at the lowest layer, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense is also teamed with Rafael on the David’s Sling System, which defends at higher layers.
Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Rafael have teamed for over a decade on Iron Dome, the world's most-used system with more than 2,500 operational intercepts and a success rate exceeding 90 per cent.
