Overview

• Retired Gen. Glen VanHerck said gaps persist below the space layer, citing hypersonic and cruise missile threats that raise deterrence risks.
• He said he is not satisfied with force capacity versus policy expectations and called current posture insufficient for homeland defense.
• VanHerck voiced support for President Trump’s Golden Dome plan, calling it realistic though expensive with key technologies still to be developed.
• Trump appointed Gen. Mike Guetlein to lead Golden Dome in July; in late July Guetlein said about two and a half weeks remained in his 60-day deadline to deliver an objective architecture.
• Speakers highlighted compounding challenges, from adversary decoys and jammers to limited Arctic domain awareness and the need for coordinated defense with law enforcement and critical industries.