The Pentagon’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system will comprise four integrated layers, one space-based and three on land, with 11 short-range missile batteries across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii, according to a U.S. government slide presentation seen by Reuters.
Presented last week to more than 3,000 defense contractors in Huntsville, Alabama, the slides, tagged “Go Fast, Think Big!”, outlined the $175 billion project’s unprecedented scale and complexity, ahead of a 2028 deadline set by President Donald Trump.
While $25 billion has been appropriated and another $45.3 billion requested in Trump’s 2026 budget, key elements such as the number of launchers, interceptors, and ground stations remain undecided.
Modeled in part on Israel’s Iron Dome but vastly expanded for U.S. geography and threats, the system’s top tier will use a space-based sensing and targeting network for early warning, tracking, and missile interception. The three land-based layers will combine interceptors, radar arrays, and potentially lasers.
A notable addition is a new missile field, appearing in the Midwest on presentation maps, for Lockheed Martin’s Next Generation Interceptors (NGI), forming part of the “upper layer” alongside THAAD and Aegis systems.
This would complement existing Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) sites in Alaska and southern California, adding protection against intercontinental ballistic missiles from adversaries.
The “under layer,” or final line of defense, will incorporate upgraded Patriot missile batteries, new radars, and a modular “common launcher” capable of firing both current and future interceptors. These mobile systems would allow rapid redeployment to multiple theaters without reliance on fixed infrastructure.
Technical challenges identified include reducing communications latency across the “kill chain” and developing reentry-capable interceptors for space-based “boost phase” interception, a capability the U.S. has never fielded.
Contractors involved in Golden Dome development include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Boeing; SpaceX, previously linked to the project, was not mentioned in the latest briefing.
Space Force General Michael Guetlein, appointed last month to lead Golden Dome, has 30 days from July 17 to assemble his team, 60 days to deliver an initial design, and 120 days to present a full implementation plan, including satellite and ground station specifications, under orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Pentagon says it is still in the early planning stages, gathering input from industry, academia, national laboratories, and other agencies before releasing further details.
Written By Rodney Mbua
