In a significant move to bolster national security, President Donald Trump is set to evaluate three proposed strategies for the ambitious ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system in the coming week. This initiative aims to establish an advanced shield capable of protecting the United States from a spectrum of aerial threats, including ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons.​

The Genesis of ‘Golden Dome’

The Golden Dome missile defense system is a bold new initiative launched by President Trump in January 2025. Inspired by Israel’s successful Iron Dome and former President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), the project aims to build a powerful, multi-layered shield to protect the United States from modern missile threats. The system is designed to defend against a range of dangers, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic weapons, and cruise missiles, using cutting-edge technologies like space-based radar systems, missile interceptors, and even laser weapons.

The idea behind the Golden Dome borrows heavily from Israel’s Iron Dome, which has been remarkably effective in stopping short-range rockets fired at Israeli cities. However, Trump’s plan scales up that concept dramatically to cover the entire U.S. homeland—an area of over 9 million square kilometers. The initiative also draws inspiration from Reagan’s 1980s-era SDI, nicknamed “Star Wars,” which envisioned similar space-based defenses. Reagan’s plan ultimately faltered due to technological limits at the time. Trump argues that modern advancements in space sensors, missile defense, and laser technology now make such a system possible.

The project officially began when Trump signed an executive order on January 27, 2025, originally calling the effort “Iron Dome for America” before renaming it the Golden Dome to reflect its broader scope. He tasked the Pentagon with developing an implementation plan within two months of the order. Defense officials are currently working on that plan and are looking to integrate existing defense programs such as the Hypersonic Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS) and the Proliferated Weapons Space Architecture (PWSA) into the Golden Dome framework. Both programs are already focused on early warning and tracking of advanced missile threats.

The effort is being led primarily by the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Space Force, with major defense contractors—including Raytheon—expected to play a significant role in building and deploying the system. If successful, the Golden Dome would represent the most ambitious and far-reaching missile defense system in U.S. history, aiming to deliver the kind of comprehensive protection that has long been a goal of American defense strategy but never fully realized—until now.

Pentagon’s Preparations and Strategic Planning

In response to the President’s directive, a specialized team comprising members from various defense and military agencies has been formulating multiple approaches for the ‘Golden Dome’ project. These options vary in scope and complexity but share the common goal of enhancing the nation’s missile defense capabilities. Given the project’s ambitious nature, discussions are underway about establishing a dedicated organization to oversee its development and implementation, as the existing Missile Defense Agency may not suffice for such a large-scale endeavor. 

Industry Collaboration and Technological Contributions

According to Defense One, major defense contractors are poised to play a pivotal role in bringing the ‘Golden Dome’ to fruition. Lockheed Martin, for instance, has expressed readiness to contribute its expertise and technologies to the project. The company is exploring the integration of various assets, including command-and-control networks, the F-35 stealth fighter, and advanced radar systems, to support the initiative. Frank St. John, Lockheed’s Chief Operating Officer, emphasized the project’s significance, likening its importance to that of the Manhattan Project. ​

Other defense firms, such as RTX, L3Harris Technologies, and Northrop Grumman, have also shown interest in contributing to the ‘Golden Dome.’ Additionally, companies specializing in counter-drone systems and electronic warfare are exploring opportunities to integrate their technologies into the broader defense framework envisioned by the initiative. ​

Challenges and Considerations

The proposed Golden Dome missile defense system for the United States faces a series of major challenges and concerns that will need to be addressed as the project moves forward. On the technical side, one of the biggest obstacles is the system’s ability to intercept advanced missiles. Unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, which defends against short-range rockets, Golden Dome is intended to counter long-range weapons like intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)—a much more complex task. Additionally, the system must be able to defend against maneuverable threats such as cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons that can change direction mid-flight, making them extremely difficult to track and intercept. To effectively neutralize these threats, Golden Dome will rely heavily on space-based radars, lasers, and interceptors, each of which comes with significant technical and logistical hurdles.

From a strategic and operational standpoint, the scale of Golden Dome is unprecedented. While Iron Dome protects a relatively small area, Golden Dome is intended to provide nationwide coverage, shielding an area over 9 million square kilometers. To achieve this, the system will require a multi-layered defense network, integrating assets across air, land, sea, and space. This enormous scope presents serious coordination and management challenges. Additionally, there are concerns that building such a system could inflame global tensions and possibly trigger a new arms race. Defense experts are also evaluating how the deployment of Golden Dome might impact the delicate balance of nuclear deterrence that has existed for decades.

Economic factors are another major consideration. Developing and deploying Golden Dome will come with an extremely high price tag, likely costing tens of billions of dollars. One key challenge is the cost-effectiveness of the system—interceptor missiles used to neutralize incoming threats are significantly more expensive than the offensive missiles they are designed to stop. This raises questions about whether the system is financially sustainable over the long term. Even with significant funding, defense officials estimate that it could take up to seven years to build and field a functioning Golden Dome system, and even then, it may only be capable of protecting major cities and critical government infrastructure, leaving many areas vulnerable.

Effectiveness is another open question. Achieving close to 100% interception capability would drive costs even higher, forcing policymakers to strike a difficult balance between protection and affordability. There is also the risk that the system could be overwhelmed by a large-scale attack, with multiple missiles launched simultaneously to saturate and bypass defenses. Furthermore, the reliance on space-based components introduces new vulnerabilities, as these assets could be targeted by enemy anti-satellite weapons, which are much cheaper and easier to deploy. Finally, there is a degree of technological uncertainty surrounding the feasibility of the entire project. Some defense analysts remain skeptical, pointing to the long history of failed or underperforming missile defense programs designed to counter long-range threats.

Despite these significant challenges, the U.S. government and its defense industry partners are pressing ahead with the Golden Dome concept. Research and development efforts are already underway to find solutions to these complex technical, strategic, and economic issues. Whether the system will ultimately meet its ambitious goals remains to be seen, but it is clear that the project represents one of the most ambitious and controversial national defense initiatives in recent history.

Looking Ahead

As President Trump reviews the proposed options for the ‘Golden Dome’ next week, the nation awaits further details on the chosen path forward. The administration’s commitment to enhancing homeland defense through this initiative underscores the evolving nature of global threats and the need to adapt accordingly. The decisions made in the coming days will likely have far-reaching implications for the United States defense posture in the years to come.​