• The Golden Dome missile defense system includes four layers: one in space and three on land.
• Projected cost is $175 billion, with $25 billion already appropriated.
• New missile fields are proposed in the American Midwest.
• There are technical challenges surrounding interceptor capabilities and architecture uncertainty.
• Lockheed Martin and other defense contractors are key players in the system's development.

President Donald Trump's proposed Golden Dome missile defense system aims to incorporate a robust multi-layered defense strategy, featuring four integrated layers: one satellite-based and three on land. Plans revealed in a recent presentation to defense contractors indicate that 11 short-range missile batteries will be established across the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii, all part of an ambitious framework aimed for completion by 2028. The estimated cost of the project is $175 billion, with $25 billion already allocated in a tax-and-spending bill passed in July, and an additional $45.3 billion earmarked in his 2026 budget request. The project is inspired by Israel's Iron Dome but is significantly more complex due to the varied threats it aims to counter, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.

The complexity of the Golden Dome architecture remains uncertain, particularly regarding the number of launchers, interceptors, and ground stations needed for successful operation. A U.S. official commented on this uncertainty, stating, “They have a lot of money, but they don't have a target of what it costs yet”. The newly proposed missile field in the American Midwest, intended to enhance missile defense by countering threats, would supplement existing sites in southern California and Alaska. This field is planned to host Next Generation Interceptors (NGI) produced by Lockheed Martin, which will play a crucial role alongside existing systems like THAAD and Aegis, as reported by Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

The Golden Dome system emphasizes a strategic focus on neutralizing threats during their "boost phase," when missiles are most vulnerable as they leave the launch pad. The project faces technical hurdles, including challenges associated with communication latency across the "kill chain," and it was noted that while the U.S. has developed both interceptors and re-entry vehicles, challenges remain around creating a vehicle capable of both targeting enemy missiles and withstanding the heat of re-entry. Key contractors involved in this endeavor include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX, as mentioned by Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The Pentagon is actively gathering information to support the Golden Dome initiative but has stated it is currently "imprudent" to disclose additional information due to the project's early developmental stage. Space Force General Michael Guetlein is expected to lead the project, with critical milestones for team assembly and design deliverables set within months, according to a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as reported by South China Morning Post, and Reuters.