American satellite communications operator Kymeta is working on a conformal antenna, which can be integrated into the missile body, developed by the startup iRocket (Innovative Rocket Technologies), to provide multi-orbital communication, which will be critical to the global multi-layered missile defense system to protect the US Golden Dome.
19 November 2025 year, the companies announced a partnership, to use metamaterial technology, applied in Kymeta multi-orbit broadband user terminals, to connect the IRX-100 - iRocket short-range missile, which made its first flight last month.
Kymeta's Chief Scientist expects, that these missile interceptors will operate under conditions of strong radio electronic suppression and significant signal degradation. They need uninterrupted access to guidance data and command and staff communications (in-flight trajectory updates), while they move at extreme speeds, often through disputed airspace, and GPS, tactical radio frequencies and single-track (satellite communications) silenced. Multi-orbital communications will transform missile interceptors from largely autonomous weapons with pre-programmed parameters to fully networked systems, able to adapt in flight, stay connected in contested environments and respond to evolving threats with greater precision and reliability.
Golden Dome's multi-layered defensive structure will depend on a fully networked one, always active defensive shield, which will be able to detect, track and intercept dynamic threats over vast distances and across multiple domains. To make it work, missile interceptors must remain connected to command and control networks throughout their flight, and not just at the start-up or terminal stage. Multi-orbital communication provides this stability, and conformal metamaterial technology makes it practical for next-generation systems, reducing resistance, weight and visibility. This is a critical step to ensure more flexible, reactive national defense capability. Future conflicts will be highly adaptive and Golden Dome systems will require continuous communications to track changing targets and counter evolving enemy capabilities.
Source: https://spacenews.com