Defense industry leaders are confident that the technology now exists to build an invisible protective dome of space-based radars, missile interceptors, and laser weapons over the United States, 40 years after the idea was first conceived by President Ronald Reagan. Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, President Donald Trump has ordered the Defense Department to begin drawing up plans for a U.S. version, known as the “Golden Dome.” However, protecting the much larger landmass of the U.S. from threats like intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonics poses challenges not faced by Israel, which is smaller in size and faces threats from nearby neighbors.
The Golden Dome project faces various questions that need to be addressed, such as whether it will cover the entire country, including states like Hawaii and Alaska, as well as U.S. military bases abroad. Defense contractors believe that it will likely be a layered system, with different measures to protect against various types of threats. The U.S. already has a layered missile defense system in place, such as the Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications System, but more advanced and widespread protection is needed to counter current threats. Defense industry leaders emphasize that the necessary technology exists to make a Golden Dome a reality.
Building a Golden Dome will require a whole-of-government approach involving various branches of the military, including the missile defense agency, Air Force, Army, Navy, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The protection zone may initially focus on major cities or military sites before expanding to cover the entire homeland. Defense contractors believe that some defensive measures could be implemented as early as 2026, with the goal of ultimately protecting the entire U.S. The biggest challenge posed by the new class of highly maneuverable cruise weapons and hypersonic weapons is that they follow unpredictable paths, making it essential to develop more robust defensive systems that can track these weapons throughout their trajectories.
The Golden Dome project may draw on existing missile defense missions and systems, such as the National Capital Region Integrated Air Defense System, to protect key areas from incoming threats. It could also leverage systems like the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 system and high-powered microwave systems being developed by the Army to counter drone threats. The Marine Corps is planning to field mobile air defense systems, including modified Iron Dome launchers, while addressing needs like over-the-horizon radar to fill blind spots in detecting low-flying missiles.
Funding for the Golden Dome project is expected to be outlined in Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget request to Congress, with collaboration with the private sector to address the challenges associated with the project. Organizational challenges, including breaking down barriers between different sections of the U.S. Code governing defense operations, will also need to be addressed to successfully implement such a complex and large-scale project. Despite the formidable challenges, defense industry leaders and military officials express confidence in the technology and capabilities needed to build a Golden Dome that can provide comprehensive protection for the United States.
