Raytheon-Rafael Protection Systems (R2S) has delivered the first U.S.-produced Tamir missiles from its new facility in Camden, Arkansas. The delivery, celebrated Wednesday with a ceremony attended by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other federal and state officials, signifies the start of domestic production for the Iron Dome air defense system.
"For the first time, the United States can produce these interceptors in the United States," said Jonathan Casey, chief executive of R2S, during the event. He emphasized that this capability provides the U.S. and its allies with an additional source for the missiles.
R2S is a joint venture between Raytheon, a division of RTX, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, based in Israel. The new Camden facility, located at the Highland Industrial Park in East Camden, opened in November 2025. Its development builds on RTX’s ongoing operations in the same industrial area.
Initially announced in October 2023 by Gov. Sanders following her discussions with company leaders at the Paris Air Show, the project has expanded significantly. Originally planned as a $33 million investment supporting 30 jobs, the facility has grown into a $63 million enterprise expected to create up to 60 jobs. Construction began in February 2024.
"I was grateful for the opportunity to break ground on this facility in 2024, to cut the ribbon last November, and, today, to celebrate the completion of the first Tamir missiles produced here in the Natural State," Sanders said during Wednesday’s ceremony.
R2S plans to ramp up production at the Camden plant to meet domestic and international demand for its short- and medium-range air defense systems. The facility will also manufacture the SkyHunter missiles, an iteration of Tamir tailored for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Medium Range Intercept Capability program.
Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, highlighted the broader significance of the delivery. "This is a milestone for the company and for Camden," O’Neal said.
The Iron Dome is one of the world’s most widely deployed air defense systems. Its inclusion in U.S. production indicates a deepening of defense collaboration between the United States and Israel, as well as Arkansas’ growing role in advanced manufacturing.