Raytheon [RTN] Tuesday said it received a $149.3 million contract award from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. to provide products for the Tamir interceptor used in the defensive Iron Dome Weapon System.
Raytheon said it would use its technology resources and supplier network to provide a second source of supply for essential Iron Dome interceptor components.
Photo: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
With more than 1,000 successful intercepts, Tamir is the only combat proven counter rocket, artillery, and mortar interceptor available for U.S. and coalition partners today, Raytheon said.
“Iron Dome has proven itself time and again by protecting Israel’s population from incoming rockets, artillery and mortars,” said Taylor Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. “The sourcing of Tamir interceptor components in the U.S. will go a long way to ensuring sufficient volumes of available Tamir missiles for Israel’s defense.”
The award builds upon a co-marketing agreement the two companies have had in place for Iron Dome since 2011.
“The partnership between the Missile Defense Agency and the Israeli Missile Defense Organization has been extraordinary,” said DiDi Yaari, chief executive officer of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. “We’re very appreciative of the U.S.’s support for this life-saving system. Maintaining Iron Dome’s supply gives Israelis great peace of mind.”
President Barack Obama signed a bill Aug. 4 that provided $225 million in emergency supplemental funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system in Israel. The funding for the current fiscal year was expected to help Israel “sustain production of Iron Dome components in order to maintain adequate stockpiles of Iron Dome interceptors and equipment,” according to a White House statement. In late July, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel requested the funding, which was separate from $176 million Congress was ready to provide for fiscal year 2015 above the president’s request (Defense Daily, Aug. 18).