On Thursday, 20 November 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that it had concluded a multi-billion deal with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to accelerate and expand the production of Iron Dome short-range missile defense system batteries along with Tamir interceptor missiles.
Photo: Israel Ministry of Defense
This is the second agreement on the matter. The first one, also a multi-billion deal, was signed on 16 January this year.
As before, the funding comes from the U.S. military aid package worth a total of 8.7 billion USD, approved by the U.S. Congress in April 2024. It includes a dedicated allocation of 5.2 billion USD to strengthen Israel’s air and missile defense systems, including the Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems, as well as the high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS) Iron Beam (aka Magen Or), which was ordered separately on 2 October 2024.
The aid package was included in the federal bill H.R.8034 – the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 – signed on 24 April last year by then-U.S. President Joe Biden.
The new agreement was signed by the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, retired Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, in the presence of Defense Minister Yoav Kac, the head of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) at the Ministry of Defense, retired Brig. Gen. Dr. Daniel Gold, U.S. Defense Attaché in Israel Gen. Aaron Drake, Rafael’s Executive Vice President for Marketing and Business Development, retired Gen. Nir Halamish, the head of the Ministry of Defense Finance Department, Dekel Cohen, the Ministry’s legal adviser, attorney Hil Erlich Omer, and others.
As before, the contract is the result of comprehensive negotiations conducted by the Director of the Israeli Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) at the Ministry of Defense, Moshe Patel; the Director for Israeli Programs at the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA); and Rafael’s Senior Vice President and Head of Air and Missile Defense Systems Division, Shlomo Toaff. Under this agreement, Rafael will supply a significant number of interceptor missiles for Iron Dome batteries (in the case of the first agreement, a significant number of launchers and missiles was mentioned).
According to information from Bloomberg news agency dated 6 November 2023, the United States proposed, in the package later put to a vote, to finance the purchase of 100 launchers for at least 25 batteries and approximately 14,000 Tamir missiles (one battery consists of 3–4 launchers with 20 missiles each).
Photo: Israel Defense Forces
The Iron Dome system was developed jointly by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) at the request of the Israeli Ministry of Defense in February 2007. Work on the system began in December of the same year. Testing was carried out from July 2008 to July 2010. The first batteries entered frontline units in March 2011, and on 7 April that same year it made its combat debut. Ten batteries are currently deployed in Israel; earlier plans envisioned the introduction of five more, and the United States relinquished its two.
The increase in the number of batteries likely results from the heavy use of existing systems in defensive operations against rocket attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Yemen’s Houthis in recent months, and elements of at least one battery were damaged by Lebanese militants. For this reason, Israel is also investing in other air-defense assets, such as the advanced upper-tier missile defense system Arrow-3 (Hetz-3), for which additional missiles were ordered on 24 December 2024 and 17 July 2025.
An Iron Dome battery consists of six firing units with Tamir interceptor missiles, an mPrest Systems command-and-control and fire-control suite, and an IAI Elta EL/M-2084 MMR (Multi-Mission Radar) detection and tracking radar station.
It is a highly mobile air-defense system with a dual role: designed to counter very short-range threats (VSHORAD) as well as rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) threats, aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and guided and cruise missiles. It allows for the neutralization of these threats at ranges from 4 to 70 km.
Defense Minister Israel Katz:
“The Iron Dome system has become one of the world’s finest air defense systems in history. Over the years, and particularly during recent military operations, Iron Dome has protected our nation’s skies and successfully intercepted thousands of threats from Gaza, Lebanon, and other theaters – serving as a protective shield for Israeli citizens against those who threaten us. Today’s signing of this landmark contract represents a strategic leap forward that will significantly reinforce our air defense capabilities against adversaries who remain relentless in their efforts to threaten Israel’s security. This agreement stands as further testimony to the depth and strength of our alliance with the United States and to the robust cooperation between our nations. Together, we will continue developing and enhancing the world’s most advanced air defense systems – ensuring the security of our state and Israel’s strategic superiority for decades to come.”
Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Amir Baram:
“In accordance with the Ministry’s strategy, we remain committed to strengthening the readiness and operational capacity of the IDF in an increasingly complex security environment. The Iron Dome system has fundamentally transformed the battlefield, demonstrating unprecedented interception capabilities on a global scale against a vast spectrum of threats. This contract will dramatically enhance the multi-layered defense posture and strategic stability of the State of Israel. Joint production in Israel and the United States exemplifies the potential of our technological and industrial partnership – a collaboration the Israel Ministry of Defense is eager to expand across additional systems and domains.”
Photo: Rafael
Chairman of Rafael, Dr. Yuval Steinitz:
“The procurement of interceptors from Rafael marks a significant leap forward that will secure Israel’s decisive technological advantage for years to come. We remain committed to providing the defense establishment with the most advanced, groundbreaking solutions in the world, to protect the nation’s skies — both the front lines and the home front.
This latest procurement is a clear testament to the strength of Israel’s defense industry and to the critical importance of local production. Rafael provides not only exceptional operational capabilities but also plays a vital role in national economic growth and in reinforcing Israel’s position as a global technological powerhouse.”
President and CEO of Rafael, Yoav Tourgeman:
“Rafael welcomes the accelerated procurement of Iron Dome interceptors and the continued cooperation with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Israel’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT). Over the past two years, Rafael’s air-defense systems, Iron Dome and David’s Sling, have played a major role in Israel’s air defense and have repeatedly demonstrated their exceptional ability to intercept a wide range of threats targeting Israeli civilians; soon, they will be joined by the first operational laser-based defense system emerging from Rafael’s production lines. The expanded procurement reflects renewed confidence in Iron Dome, which has become a global benchmark for air-defense systems. Rafael remains firmly committed to fulfilling its mission and serving as a central pillar in Israel’s national security.”
Israel MOD Signs Multi-Billion Dollar Contract with @RAFAELdefense to Expand Serial Production of Iron Dome System
Read More: https://t.co/4xa0sCdfU8 pic.twitter.com/92OLkgInLG
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) November 20, 2025
Israel Ministry of Defense Signs Multi-Billion-Dollar Contract with Rafael to Expand Iron Dome Production
The Israel Ministry of Defense has signed a major procurement contract with Rafael to significantly expand the serial production of Iron Dome interceptors for the IDF.
The… pic.twitter.com/twy9uGozGA— Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (@RAFAELdefense) November 20, 2025
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