Overview

• The 'Golden Dome' project, ordered by President Trump in January 2025, seeks to shield the U.S. from ballistic and hypersonic missile threats using space-based radars, interceptors, and lasers.
• Defense leaders describe the initiative as requiring a 'Manhattan Project-scale' effort, involving multiple government agencies and private contractors to address its unprecedented complexity.
• Initial deployment, potentially starting in 2026, could focus on protecting major cities and critical federal sites before expanding nationwide, according to defense contractors.
• Experts highlight significant challenges, including defending against unpredictable hypersonic weapons and the vast U.S. landmass, raising doubts about the system's feasibility and timeline.
• The project, expected to cost billions, is included in President Trump's 2026 budget request, with funding details to be presented to Congress by the end of March 2025.