'Israel', US deepen military ties; Iron Dome production in Arkansas
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US-based Raytheon and Israeli Rafael to establish $63 million production plant in Arkansas to produce Iron Dome systems and relevant missiles.
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Two Iron Dome anti-air launch systems deployed in an unknown location in the Israeli occupation entity in 2019 (AFP)
Arms production giants American Raytheon and Israeli Rafael Advanced Defence Systems have formed a partnership called RS2 to improve global air defense capabilities in Arkansas, deepening military ties between the United States and the Israeli occupation.
The new $63 million facility located in the Highland Industrial Park, East Camden, is considered an advancement in the production of the Iron Dome air defense system - a joint US-Israeli project - and its related missiles, such as the Tamir and SkyHunter, and a strategic shift toward US local production of military requirements.
Read more: US not to rethink military aid to 'Israel', says it is not 'impactful'
This development is in line with the US Army's purchase of two Iron Dome systems in 2019 from Israelis and precedes a substantial export contract with the Marine Corps, including three Iron Dome batteries, 44 launchers, and 1,840 interceptors.
Following the start of the war on Gaza, the United States deployed its only two Iron Dome batteries in "Israel" and provided thousands of intercepters, among a wide range of other ammunition and military hardware, as the occupation entity struggled to deal with the thousands of rockets and missiles being launched from Gaza and Lebanon.
Read more: Iron Dome will not cover 'Sderot'; 'Israel' conserves interceptor
Since then, Washington has approved further supplies of interceptors to anticipate a prolonged war and a potential escalation with the Resistance in Lebanon Hezbollah.
The US had also provided Ukraine earlier with an Iron Dome system as well as its operational missiles. But fears of depleting stockpiles have forced the US to look for ways to replenish its interceptors' inventory, giving the Arkansas project much more significance.
