Overview

• The Missile Defense Agency moved SHIELD proposals to Oct. 16 from Oct. 10 after receiving more than 1,500 industry questions on the up-to-$151 billion, 10-year contract vehicle.
• Agency officials said the solicitation changed little and that the delay is chiefly to let companies review answers, underscoring unusually strong contractor engagement.
• Canada’s Defence Minister David McGuinty publicly backed exploring a North American air and missile defence “continental shield,” following President Trump’s claim the two countries will work together, though Ottawa has not announced a formal agreement.
• Congress has appropriated about $25 billion so far, while a May CBO report projected $542–$831 billion over 20 years and analysts warn total costs could be far higher than the White House’s $175 billion figure.
• The architecture envisions land, sea, and space-based interceptors under Space Force oversight, with prototype work underway and experts warning that on-orbit interceptors pose significant technical and strategic risks.