The U.S. Space Command has submitted options for President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for review. This initiative aims to deploy space-based weapons to intercept ground-launched missiles shortly after launch.
The proposal comes in response to advancements in hypersonic weaponry by adversaries, notably China’s 2021 orbital warhead test.
General Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command, emphasized the necessity of orbital interceptors to deter or prevail in potential space conflicts, stating “It’s time that we can clearly say that we need space fires, and we need weapons systems. We need orbital interceptors…We call these weapons, and we need them to deter a space conflict and to be successful if we end up in such a fight.”
The “Golden Dome” program, previously known as “Iron Dome,” was rebranded in February and is intended to integrate existing missile defenses with innovative space-based technologies.
The Department of Defense has not disclosed specific system details or associated costs, but the options include estimated expenses aligning with Trump’s proposed $1 trillion defense budget for 2026. The Pentagon is now setting specific requirements for the program, guiding the pursuit of commercial technologies for an initial deployment within a few years.
This initiative echoes President Ronald Reagan’s 1980s “Star Wars” Strategic Defense Initiative, which was ultimately shelved due to technical and financial hurdles.
