US Space Force General Michael Guetlein, designed 20 May 2025 year by President Donald Trump as the head of the "Golden Dome" program (Golden Dome) and approved by the Senate 17 July, stated, that the technologies to create an ambitious anti-missile defense system based on space interceptors already exist. speaking 22 July 2025 year at the Space Foundation Innovate Space Summit: Global Economic Summit in Arlington, Virginia, Gütlein emphasized, that all the physical principles for implementing the system are verified, but cost-effectiveness and scalability remain key challenges.
Technological basis of the "Golden Dome"
The Golden Dome is a proposed anti-missile defense system, which is supposed to protect the US from ballistic missiles, hypersonic and cruise missiles using a network of space sensors and interceptors. It resembles the initiative of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI, "Star Wars"), proposed by Ronald Reagan in 1983 year, but relies on modern technologies, such as reusable launch vehicles and commercial innovations.
Among the key components of the system:
Space sensors: such as the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) by L3Harris Technologies, which detect and track hypersonic missiles.
Space interceptors: satellites, equipped with missiles to destroy threats in the flight phase, including the acceleration phase (boost phase).
Land and sea systems: integration with existing systems, such as Aegis, THAAD і PAC-3, for multi-layer protection.
Northrop Grumman CEO Cathy Worden confirmed, that the company is already testing technologies, related to "Golden Dome", in particular space interceptors, which are critical to the system. She noted, that these technologies include new innovations, but rely on proven solutions, such as radar systems and secret projects.
Implementation challenges
Despite technological readiness, Gutlein singled out two main challenges:
Economic efficiency: the creation of thousands of interceptor satellites requires significant investment. According to Trump, the project will cost 175 billions of US dollars, while the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts costs from 161 to 542 billions of dollars for 20 years, and some senators estimate the cost in the trillions.
Scalability: countering massive attacks requires thousands of satellites, which must be regularly replaced due to orbital degradation. Gütlein emphasized the need to expand the industrial base, provision of raw materials and acceleration of production.
Organizational barriers are also significant. Guetlein emphasized the need to change the culture in the US military and among contractors, to integrate technologies from different services and agencies. He noted, that Cosmic forces cannot act independently due to the vastness of space, and cooperation with commercial companies, such as Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, RTX, SpaceX, Palantir and Anduril, is key. General Chance B. Saltzman, head of the Space Force, in April 2025 year at the Space Foundation symposium emphasized, that success depends on integrating commercial innovations to stay ahead of the competition.
Geopolitical context
The "Golden Dome" caused an international reaction. China criticized the project, affirming, that it violates the principles of the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space under the Outer Space Treaty and may trigger an arms race. Russia initially criticized the initiative, but later called it a "sovereign right of the United States". New Zealand supported the project as a defense project, and the American company Rocket Lab, based in New Zealand, through the acquisition, Geost is involved in component development. Canada refused Trump's offer to join the program for 61 billion dollars or become the 51st US state.
Comparison with past initiatives
The Golden Dome builds on SDI's ideas and the Brilliant Pebbles concept from the 1980s, but modern technology, such as reusable rockets and commercial satellite constellations, make it more realistic. Unlike the Israeli "Iron Dome", which protects against short-range missiles, The Golden Dome is aimed at global ballistic protection, hypersonic and cruise missiles, including attacks from space. However, critics, such as Senator Mark Kelly, doubt the feasibility of the project due to its high cost and reduction of teams, responsible for technology assessment.
Prospects and risks
Guetlein noted, that opponents, such as China and Russia, develop hypersonic missiles with a speed of more than 6000 mph and maneuverable spacecraft, which can attack from orbit, which emphasizes the need for the "Golden Dome". However, the technology to intercept missiles from space remains complex: ground interceptors have only 20% success in the sliding phase, and space systems need to overcome atmospheric heating during entry. The Pentagon is planning a demonstration of technologies to 2028 year, but full operational readiness by the end of Trump's term (January 2029) is considered unlikely.
"Golden dome" can be a breakthrough in space defense, but its success depends on rapid deployment, integration of commercial technologies and overcoming bureaucratic barriers. If the project is implemented, it will be the world's first deployment of space weapons for strikes against ground targets, which will change the strategic balance.
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