Raytheon Missiles & Defense and RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli-based defense technology company, have entered a joint venture to establish an Iron Dome Weapon System production facility in the United States, Raytheon Technologies reported on Monday.
"This will be the first Iron Dome all-up-round facility outside of Israel, and it will help the U.S. Department of Defense and allies across the globe obtain the system for defense of their service members and critical infrastructure," said Raytheon Missiles & Defense Systems' Sam Deneke, vice president of Land Warfare & Air Defense business execution.
The joint venture will operate under the name Raytheon RAFAEL Area Protection Systems, and has projected finalizing a site location before the end of 2020. The facility will produce the Iron Dome Weapon System and a U.S. derivative of Tamir.
The Iron Dome Weapon System will comprise the Tamir interceptor and launcher, and the SkyHunter missile. Both Tamir and SkyHunter intercept incoming cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems and short-range targets such as rockets, artillery, mortars and other aerial threats.
The joint venture’s development will be the first Iron Dome all-up-round facility outside of Israel, and it will enable the Department of Defense (DoD) to obtain the system for defense of their service members and critical infrastructure.
"We are excited about this new stage in our partnership with Raytheon and proud of our U.S. production," said BG (res.) Pini Yungman, executive vice president for Air and Missile Defense of RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems. "We have long partnered on U.S. production of Iron Dome and are pleased to increase manufacturing and bring SkyHunter to the U.S."
About Raytheon Missiles & Defense
Raytheon Missiles & Defense brings global customers the most advanced end-to-end solutions delivering the advantage of one innovative partner to detect, track, and intercept threats. With a broad portfolio of air and missile defense systems, precision weapons, radars, command and control systems and advanced defense technologies Raytheon Missiles & Defense solutions protect citizens, warfighters and infrastructure in more than fifty countries around the world.