East Camden, Ark. / Tel Aviv: The interceptors of the Israeli made Iron Dome air defence systems will be manufactured in a joint production facility in the US. The interceptors will be built by R2S – a joint venture between Raytheon and Rafael Advanced Defense System. Raytheon is an RTX business.
R2S has broken ground on its new manufacturing facility in East Camden, Arkansas. The facility will produce the Tamir missile for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its variant, the SkyHunter® missile to be used by US Marine Corps and US allies, announced Rafael in a press release on February 21, 2024. This facility represents an investment of $63 million for R2S and will create up to 60 new jobs in the region. The R2S facility will build on RTX’s existing production capacity at the Highland Industrial Park. Company representatives joined Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and state officials to announce the project in October 2023.
“It’s an honour to join R2S for today’s groundbreaking, just as it was an honour to announce this project in October and meet with company representatives last summer at the Paris Air Show,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “This investment will be a boon for the local economy: $63 million and 60 new jobs. More than that, our world is a whole lot less secure than it used to be, and this facility makes our country safer. Thank you to all who made this announcement possible, and thank you to the team in Camden for helping our state stand out.”
“Today, we mark a significant milestone in the Iron Dome program – one of the most important and advanced air defence systems in the world. The establishment of the new facility is the result of strong cooperation between Rafael and Raytheon, who joined forces about 18 years ago,” said Pini Yungman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Air & Missile Defense Division, Rafael.
“We have built and maintained fruitful collaboration based on the shared vision of both companies, committed to the highest level of technological innovation. The United States is a true partner; and local production, which we have aspired to for many years, will strengthen the partnership while safeguarding the interests of all sides. I am confident that we are ready for further cooperation in the future aimed at ensuring the security of the citizens of Israel and America,” Yungman added.
“R2S is pleased to announce today that it’s almost doubling the capital investment for the project here in Camden, Arkansas from $33 million to $63 million, and it may create up to 60 new jobs. This increase represents the commitment by both partners to support this critical project for the USMC and to our allies around the world that depend on a reliable air defence system,” said Annabel Flores, deputy president of Land & Air Defense Systems, Raytheon.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
