US Pentagon moves ahead with space‑based missile defense tests

The United States Department of Defense is preparing the first tests of its Golden Dome space‑based missile‑defense system before the end of 2025, with a full on‑orbit demonstration planned for 2027. The program, projected to cost up to $185 billion, aims to counter hypersonic and maneuverable ballistic threats from rivals such as China and Russia by placing interceptors in orbit.

The Pentagon’s Space Systems Command will award up to $3.2 billion in contracts to twelve firms, including Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, SpaceX and Lockheed Martin, for prototype development. Northrop Grumman expects to demonstrate on‑orbit interceptor capabilities in 2027 after ground tests that year. Apex’s Project Shadow targets a June 2026 launch of an “Orbital Magazine” satellite that will fire two interceptors as a proof of concept. The initiative reflects a shift toward space‑enabled defense against emerging high‑speed missile technologies.