Golden Dome Missile Defence Plan Unveiled with Four-Layer Shield Across the US
The Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defence project will feature four integrated layers, including one space-based system and three on land. According to a US government presentation first reported by Reuters, the land network will include 11 short-range batteries spread across the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii.
The slides, marked “Go Fast, Think Big!”, were shown last week to 3,000 defence contractors in Huntsville, Alabama. They reveal the project’s unprecedented scale and an ambitious 2028 completion goal set by US President Donald Trump.
Cost and Funding Challenges
The Golden Dome is expected to cost $175 billion. However, the exact number of launchers, interceptors, radar sites, and ground stations required is still uncertain.
So far, Congress has allocated $25 billion for the project in a spending bill passed in July. Trump’s 2026 budget request sets aside a further $45.3 billion. A US official noted, “They have a lot of money, but they don’t have a target of what it costs yet.”
System Architecture and Capabilities
Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the US version is far larger due to the country’s size and the range of threats it faces. The system will include:
A space-based layer for detecting and tracking missiles.
Three land-based layers with interceptors, radar arrays, and potentially laser weapons.
A new missile field in the Midwest is planned for Next Generation Interceptors (NGI), made by Lockheed Martin. These will work with Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) and Aegis systems to form the “upper layer” of protection.
Currently, the US operates Ground-Based Midcourse Defence (GMD) sites in Alaska and California. The new Midwest site will strengthen protection against intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Technical and Operational Hurdles
The slides also outlined technical challenges such as communication delays within the “kill chain” — the sequence of detecting, tracking, and intercepting threats. Major contractors include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Boeing.
Interestingly, SpaceX was not mentioned, despite previously bidding for Golden Dome contracts alongside Palantir and Anduril.
One of the key aims is to intercept missiles during their “boost phase”, when they are slower and easier to track. However, the US has never built a re-entry-capable vehicle that can survive high temperatures while targeting enemy missiles.
Flexible and Rapid Deployment
The final “under layer” of defence will include new radar systems, the existing Patriot missile system, and a new “common” launcher compatible with both current and future interceptors.
These mobile systems will reduce dependence on fixed sites, enabling rapid deployment to different regions as needed.
Space Force General Michael Guetlein, confirmed to lead the project last month, has 30 days from his July 17 confirmation to assemble his team, 60 days to deliver an initial design, and 120 days to present a complete implementation plan. This will include details on satellites and ground stations.
with inputs from Reuters
