United States advances Golden Dome missile defense shield

The United States is advancing the “Golden Dome for America” (GDA), a next-generation missile defense shield established by Executive Order 14186 on January 27, 2025. The initiative aims to protect the mainland United States, Alaska, and Hawaii from a variety of aerial threats, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles from peer and rogue adversaries.

The Department of Defense is developing a draft architecture to integrate existing technologies with new systems, such as space-based interceptors and sensors. The proposed layered defense strategy includes a satellite layer in low Earth orbit, ground-based interceptors, and Aegis Ashore systems to engage threats at various altitudes.

While initial cost estimates were placed at $185 billion over ten years, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) now estimates the total cost of the system could reach $1.2 trillion over 20 years. The program seeks to achieve operational capability by the end of the current presidential term.