US Marine Corps completes first live-fire exercise with Israeli Iron Dome air defense system.

On October 30, 2024, the Israeli company Rafael announced that the U.S. Marine Corps had completed its first live-fire exercise with a prototype system integrated with its Tamir interceptor, part of the Iron Dome air defense system. This new system, a collaborative effort between Rafael and Raytheon as the prime contractor, integrates an American radar and command-and-control center with the Tamir interceptor and a mobile launcher, designed specifically for the Marine Corps.
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The US Marine Corps' MRIC initiative, which integrates elements of the Iron Dome system, will consist of three batteries using the Tamir interceptors. (Picture source: US Marine Corps)

The exercise demonstrated the Marines’ ability to operate the system independently and verified its capacity to counter a wide range of threats, including cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and various types of rocket artillery. This live-fire exercise followed a comprehensive training and testing program, part of the Marine Corps' Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) development. This program evaluates a prototype air defense system aimed at enhancing the Marines’ medium-range interception capabilities.

During the exercise, the Marines operated the system to intercept targets successfully, confirming the mobile launcher’s ability to maintain continuous launch operations—a feature critical for sustained defense. The Tamir interceptor was specifically adapted to meet the Marine Corps' requirements through collaboration between Rafael and Raytheon, who also provided training support for Marine operators.

Moshe Patel, head of the Israel Ministry of Defense’s Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), highlighted the Iron Dome's operational record, including its role in Israel's current 'Operation Iron Swords.' He emphasized the system’s adaptability in various defense settings and expressed support for further cooperation in air defense with the U.S. military. The IMDO, which leads Israel’s multi-layered air defense program, oversees the Iron Dome along with systems such as David’s Sling and the Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors.

According to Shlomo Toaff, Executive Vice President and Head of Rafael’s Air Defense Systems Division, the exercise marked an important point in Rafael’s collaborative efforts with the U.S. Marine Corps and Raytheon to provide tailored air defense solutions. Toaff acknowledged the joint progress made in developing an effective system for countering an extensive range of aerial threats and mentioned Rafael’s ongoing cooperation with the IMDO and other international partners to advance air defense capabilities.

This exercise is part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ broader air defense modernization effort, focusing on the Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) program and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS). In August 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps announced its decision to purchase three Iron Dome air defense batteries from Israel for around $200 million. This agreement includes 44 launchers, 1,840 Tamir interceptors, and additional support equipment as part of the Marine Corps' Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC), developed to enhance protection against threats such as cruise missiles, drones, and rockets.

Raytheon, partnering with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, will be involved in the manufacturing, with portions of the production taking place in the U.S. to support interoperability with American systems. Moreover, the MRIC's integration with U.S. command and control systems will allow the Marine Corps to deploy this capability, particularly for Indo-Pacific operations.

The MRIC initiative, which integrates elements of the Iron Dome system, will consist of three batteries using the Tamir interceptors. The Corps has allocated $111 million in its FY-25 budget for these batteries, which are scheduled for initial fielding by the end of FY-25. The MRIC system is set to incorporate the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar and the Common Aviation Command and Control System, enhancing interoperability and situational awareness within the Marine Corps' air defense framework.

Additionally, the Marine Corps is expanding its MADIS counter-drone capabilities. Contracts worth up to $200 million each have been awarded to Invariant Corp. and Anduril to develop a counter-UAS system for low-altitude threats. MADIS is expected to achieve initial operational capability in early FY-25, with initial deployments planned for the 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in Hawaii. The Marine Corps has increased its total air defense budget to $370 million for FY-25, up from $250 million in FY-24, to support the procurement of MADIS and additional air defense systems.

This successful live-fire exercise underscores the progress of the Marine Corps toward operationalizing its first MRIC battery and reflects a continued focus on air defense capabilities through partnerships with Israel and industry collaborators. These initiatives collectively aim to equip the Marine Corps with robust defense options to address evolving aerial threats.