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Raytheon and partner, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, have announced they will construct a new manufacturing facility in East Camden, Arkansas, to produce the Tamir missile for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its US variant, SkyHunter.
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Leveraging the existing Raytheon-Rafael Area Protection Systems joint venture, the two companies have committed to a US$33 million (AU$52.16 million) capital investment to develop the new facility, which will produce missiles for the US Marine Corps and other allied partners.
Raytheon and Rafael have teamed up for over a decade on Iron Dome, which has more than 5,000 operational intercepts and a success rate exceeding 90 per cent.
Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems and Raytheon-Rafael Area Protection Systems chairman of the board, welcomed this announcement, saying, “This new Camden site will be the first all-up-round production facility in the US to help support the Armed Forces and allies across the globe with this highly capable air defence missile.”
The US version of the Iron Dome Weapon System’s Tamir, SkyHunter, is a medium-range air defence weapon designed to counter a range of threats, including cruise missiles, manned and unmanned aircraft, rockets, artillery, and mortars. SkyHunter missiles will be produced for the US Marine Corps Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) program.
“This new facility will allow us to expand our presence in Camden and further benefit from the resident talent and expertise of this aerospace and defense epicentre,” Laliberty added.
Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, expanded on the importance of this new facility, saying, “Arkansas is proud to be a leader in aerospace and defence, helping to safeguard the freedom and security of the United States and its allies around the world.”
The joint venture plans to break ground on the new facility before the end of the year with the intent to begin missile production in 2025.
Raytheon Technologies is the world’s largest aerospace and defence company with more than 180,000 employees globally.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies a wide range of high-tech defence systems for air, land, sea, and space applications for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli defence establishment, as well as for customers around the world.
