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5mo ago

Golden Dome Missile Defense Initiative Faces Cost and Technical Hurdles in Early Planning Stages

Pentagon and Space Force leaders outline challenges of scaling Israel’s Iron Dome concept to a U.S.-wide shield as funding and timelines remain uncertain.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt looks on from behind a chart on prescription drug costs and posters depicting a "Golden Dome for America" as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on May 12, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, speaks May 15, 2025 at the Politico Security Summit. Credit: PoliticoLive
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Overview

  • Golden Dome, initiated by President Trump in January 2025, aims to create a U.S.-wide missile defense shield against advanced threats, including hypersonic and cruise missiles.
  • Defense officials emphasize the complexity of integrating space-based boost-phase interceptors, a key technical challenge described as unprecedented in scale and difficulty.
  • Cost estimates for the initiative remain unsettled, with projections ranging from $500 billion to trillions of dollars due to the program's scope and technological demands.
  • Pentagon leaders are coordinating across agencies to unify existing missile defense systems with new technologies, with preliminary funding expected in the FY 2026 budget request.
  • The initiative reflects heightened concerns over emerging missile threats from Russia and China, but experts warn of logistical and strategic hurdles in scaling the Iron Dome model to U.S. geography.