Raytheon-Rafael joint venture secures $1.25 billion missile contract

EAST CAMDEN, Ark. - Raytheon-Rafael Protection Systems (R2S) has been awarded a $1.25 billion contract to supply Tamir surface-to-air missiles to Israel, the company announced Friday.

The contract includes missiles, missile kits and test equipment, and marks the first production contract for the joint venture between Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE:RTX) business, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

R2S recently opened a new production facility in East Camden, Arkansas, following a $33 million capital investment. The facility, which began operations earlier this month, was established to accelerate production of Iron Dome interceptors for the Israel Missile Defense Organization.

"The new Camden site is the first all-up-round production facility in the U.S. to manufacture Tamir and SkyHunter missiles," said Jonathan Casey, R2S Chief Executive Officer, in a press release statement.

The facility will produce Tamir missiles for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its U.S. variant, SkyHunter, which is being developed for the Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability program.

According to the company, the Iron Dome system, developed by Rafael and operational since 2011, has intercepted thousands of threats with a reported success rate exceeding 95%.

The SkyHunter missile is designed to counter various threats including cruise missiles, aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars.

The Raytheon-Rafael partnership on Iron Dome technology has been in place for over a decade, according to information provided in the announcement.

In other recent news, CPI Aerostructures has announced a significant contract with Raytheon, valued at $21.1 million, for the production of components in the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band program. This contract includes the manufacturing of Pods and Air Management Systems, with deliveries set to begin in 2027. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines has selected Collins Aerospace to provide premium business class seating for its Airbus A350 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. This agreement will enhance the airline’s fleet with Collins Elevation suites and Parallel Diamond business class seats.

Pratt & Whitney Canada has delivered the first development engines for Deutsche Aircraft’s D328eco regional turboprop, marking a key milestone for the aircraft’s entry into service in 2027. The D328eco is designed to improve fuel efficiency and passenger capacity. Additionally, the U.S. has approved a potential sale of up to $3.5 billion in RTX missiles to Germany, aiming to bolster Berlin’s military capabilities. Avio and Raytheon have partnered to establish a new rocket motor facility in the U.S., enhancing Avio’s role as a supplier and securing Raytheon preferred access to production capacity. These developments highlight ongoing collaborations and advancements within the aerospace and defense sectors.

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