Now Reading: THE U.S. IS BETTING ON A NEW MISSILE SHIELD AGAINST HYPERSONIC AND SPACE-BASED THREATS. U.S. bets on new missile shield against hypersonic and space-based threats
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THE U.S. IS BETTING ON A NEW MISSILE SHIELD AGAINST HYPERSONIC AND SPACE-BASED THREATS. U.S. bets on new missile shield against hypersonic and space-based threats
THE U.S. IS BETTING ON A NEW MISSILE SHIELD AGAINST HYPERSONIC AND SPACE-BASED THREATS. U.S. bets on new missile shield against hypersonic and space-based threats
The U.S. Department of Defense submitted to Congress its strategic plan for the development of the "Golden Dome" system, a new missile defense architecture aimed at protecting the country against advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles, space attack weapons and maneuverable cruise vehicles. The project, inspired by the Israeli Iron Dome model but adapted to national scale, was announced following an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump on January 27, 2025.
A response to evolving threats
The Golden Dome system comes as a direct response to the increasing sophistication of missile systems developed by powers such as China and Russia. According to a recent Defense Intelligence Agency report, these countries are advancing technologies capable of bypassing traditional U.S. defenses, including hypersonic glider vehicles and orbit-launched missiles.
The initiative calls for a layered defense that will combine sensors, interceptors, and command and control systems with both kinetic and non-kinetic technologies, according to Andrea Yaffe, acting Pentagon space policy chief. Yaffe stressed that this threat represents "the most catastrophic danger facing the United States today."
Interagency cooperation for integral defense
During the hearing before the Senate Strategic Forces Subcommittee, several military commanders endorsed the viability of the system. Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and NORAD, explained that his commands are contributing to the integration of early warning sensors and new technologies to ensure threat detection from the seabed to outer space.
For his part, Lt. Gen. Heath A. Collins, director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), noted that his agency will bring more than four decades of experience in building today's defense architecture. Collins said the goal is to integrate ground-based interceptors, satellite radars and command and control networks within the Golden Dome framework.
Congressional challenges and warnings
Senator Deb Fischer, chairwoman of the subcommittee responsible for strategic forces, called Golden Dome "a generational leap" in defense, although she cautioned that its success will depend on continued access to key resources such as military spectrum. Fischer also noted that current systems - located primarily in Alaska and California - are insufficient to intercept emerging threats such as space weapons or hypersonic missiles.
Retired General Glen D. VanHerck estimated that implementation of the space layer of sensors and interceptors could take five to ten years, stressing the need for sustained planning.
An ambitious long-term project
Golden Dome aims to unify all layers of defense-from ground-based interceptors to space-based systems-under a single command structure. Although full deployment will require years of development, the Pentagon has begun integrating capabilities already available to accelerate its initial rollout.
