After a series of successful Medium Range Interceptor Capability (MRIC) live-fire events, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) is set to begin fielding Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Iron Dome air defence system by 2025.
The USMC’s MRIC – SkyHunter - integrated several existing systems to create a new cruise missile defence capability, is moving into training and integration this year ahead of an operational assessment in September. The Corps plans to hand over the first system to 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion in Hawai'i in June 2025.
SkyHunter, equipped with 20 of Rafael’s Tamir missile cells per launcher, boasts a range of 4-70 kilometres, surpassing the maximum range of a Stinger missile by over eight times. This extended reach enables the USMC to defend a significantly larger ground footprint.
"The USMC will soon have a capability to protect US Marines from almost all flying threats," said Golan Ben-Giat Managing Director of Rafael Australia.
"By integrating Rafael’s IRON DOME into the MRIC, the USMC is adopting a proven system that has over a decade of operational success in saving lives.”
Rafael and Raytheon have put the system through prototyping and trials since 2019 to develop a system architecture tailored to the needs of the USMC.