The U.S. Raytheon company and Israel's RAFAEL Armament Development Authority have been chosen by the Israel Missile Defense Organization to create a short-range ballistic missile defense interceptor, Boston Business Journal reported May 26.
The Israeli defense agency wants a multipurpose interceptor that can defeat many types of low-cost, short-range ballistic missiles. The Israeli-based RAFAEL is a former subdivision of the Israeli defense ministry, the report said.
Michael Booen, vice president of advanced missile defense programs at Raytheon, said in a statement that the Raytheon and RAFAEL team will create a product that also has the potential to be seamlessly added to the U.S. missile defense system arsenal.
"Our approach provides the U.S. Army with a low-cost extended air defense option for the future," Booen said.
Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz., will handle the contract, BBJ said. The Waltham, Mass.-headquartered Raytheon earned $871 million on sales of $21.9 billion last year.
Raytheon and RAFAEL ADA beat out a rival tender from Boeing, Alliant Techsystems and Israel Aircraft Industries for the contract, which is believed to be worth $50-$100 million.
