defense

What does GOLDEN DOME mean?

‘My focus as commander-in-chief is to build the strongest military of the future,’ Trump said, according to the Associated Press. As a first step, I am asking Congress to fund a state-of-the-art ‘golden dome’ missile defence shield to protect our homeland. It's all made in the USA.’

According to the definition published on the Lockheed Martin systems website, the Golden Dome is an impenetrable shield mission that protects the American homeland with unwavering certainty, guaranteeing the security and resilience of the US nation.

In his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday 4 March 2025, Trump called for funding to build a massive nationwide ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system and promised to balance the federal budget.

Trump noted that Former President Ronald Reagan wanted to do this a long time ago (Star wars project) but the technology was not there. ‘Not even close. But now we have the technology. It's actually incredible.’ he said.

Trump said in a speech, ‘And other places have it. Israel has it. Other places have it. And it should be in the United States, right? It's true. This is a very dangerous world. We should have it too. We want to be protected and we will protect our citizens like never before.’

The Pentagon has quietly changed the name of the Trump administration's ambitious national missile defence initiative from ‘Iron Dome for America’ to ‘Golden Dome for America’, according to a recent advisory to defence industry companies.

The name change came about when Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussing programmes protected from possible budget cuts, referred to the system as the ‘Golden Dome or Iron Dome’ in a recent video discussing the Pentagon's efforts to identify $50 billion in cost savings in the 2026 budget.

What initially appeared to be a verbal note has now been confirmed as an official programme name change. ‘Please note that the Department of Defence has changed the name of this programme from ‘Iron Dome for America’ to ‘Golden Dome for America’,’ the US Missile Defence Agency said in a 24 February advisory to contractors submitting proposals in response to an agency request for information.

Neither the Department of Defence nor the Missile Defence Agency responded to questions about the rationale for the name change. A defence official said the decision was made by the White House.

The Defense News publication suggested that a possible explanation could be trademark concerns, as ‘Iron Dome’ is a registered trademark owned by Israeli defence firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which developed Israel's current Iron Dome system in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries and the US Missile Defence Agency.

The programme originated from President Donald Trump's executive order of 27 January, which initiated planning for what was then called the ‘Iron Dome for America’. The order established as national policy the development of a next-generation missile defence shield, citing threats from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles.

Inspired by Israel's Iron Dome Air Defence System, the American version is designed to operate on a much larger scale and protect the entire US territory from advanced missile threats. Space-based sensors have been identified as critical components, and the executive order specifically orders the Department of Defence to investigate the potential deployment of space-based interceptors to be launched in response to an attack.

The Golden Dome aims to create a comprehensive, multi-layered defence system against hypersonic and cruise missile threats by combining space-based interceptors and advanced tracking technologies.

The Missile Defence Agency is leading efforts to assess technological capabilities with defence industry partners, and the US Space Force is expected to play a central role given the system's dependence on space technologies.

Space News, citing US Space Force Vice President for Space Operations General Michael Guetlein, reported that recent operations in the Middle East have affected the planning of the Golden Dome. Following Iran's missile attacks on Israel last year, US forces, including warships and aircraft, provided Israel with real-time intelligence and early warnings, helping to thwart many threats.

Inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, the US version is designed to protect the entire US territory from advanced missile threats on a much larger scale, Space News reported. Space-based sensors were identified as critical components, and an executive order was issued ordering the Department of Defence to investigate the potential deployment of space-based interceptors to be launched in response to attacks.

Trump issued an Executive Order on 27 January, giving the Secretary of Defence 60 days to develop ‘a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan for a next-generation missile defence shield’, an Iron Dome for America that includes space-based interceptors and other space-based components, according to the White House.

MISSION: To mobilise American industry and innovation to deliver the first Golden Dome for America's Air Defence by the end of 2026.

GOAL: ‘Integrating Capabilities to Dominate a Modern Battlefield’.

Integrating Capabilities What does it mean to harmonise the capabilities and technologies that the United States has developed so far in the field of combat science?

What are these technologies?

1. C2BMC (Command Control Battle Management Communications): The US Missile Defence Agency (MDS) conducts multiple operational and developmental tests each year to test various aspects of the Missile Defence System. To provide multiple opportunities to destroy enemy missiles in all phases of flight, MDS uses an integrated, ‘layered’ architecture. The integrated element and foundation of this architecture is the Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications system - (C2BMC-Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications system). Lockheed Martin leads the national team developing and supporting C2BMC and C2BMC-Next.

2. Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) is to develop, produce and deliver a modern, never-fail weapon against the growing and evolving ballistic missile threats of hostile elements with next generation interceptor missiles. The NGI is a first line of defence, end-to-end interceptor and destroyer missile within the Missile Defence Agency's Ground Based Medium Range Defence (GMD) system.

3. PAC-3 MSE Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles. The PAC-3 family of missiles provides defence against incoming threats using direct body-to-body contact that delivers many times more kinetic energy to the target than can be achieved by explosive fragmentation mechanisms.

Based on the combat-proven PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI), the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) provides increased performance at altitude and range by expanding the lethal area of effect with two pulsed solid propellant rocket motors. PAC-3 contributes to Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO)? As part of its role in Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO), PAC3 Missile systems are compatible with the THAAD Weapon System, the US Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defence Battle Command System (IBCS) and the F-35, the most advanced node in the 21st century battle network-centric architecture.

4. The US Early Missile Warning system is based on the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS). SBIRS uses infrared surveillance to provide early missile warning for the US military and is considered one of the country's highest priority space programmes. The system includes satellites in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and Highly Eliptical Orbit (HEO) and ground hardware and software, and a combination of payloads.

SBIRS has powerful overhead sensors that provide large amounts of data. At the SBIRS Mission Control Station, the Peak Persistent Infrared Battlefield Awareness Centre at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, these data are used for operational applications in areas such as battlefield awareness, intelligence and 24/7 tactical alerts.

As demand for remote sensing capabilities continues to grow around the world, the US Air Force's newly created data utilisation lab brings together government, industry and academia to better understand how data from satellites like SBIRS can be better applied on and off the battlefield.

Lockheed Martin's Sixth and Final SBIRS Missile Warning Satellite Successfully Launched, Now Under US Space Force Control.

The space-based infrared system SBIRS is used in the following topics:

a. Missile Defence: Critical information that supports the effective operation of missile defence systems.

b. Battlespace Awareness: Comprehensive Infra Red (IR) data to help support battlefield conditions.

c. Missile Warning: Providing reliable, clear, timely and accurate warning information for strategic missile launches into the area to be protected.

d. Technical Intelligence (Technical Intelligence) To characterise signatures, events and threat performance data to identify IR event signatures.

5. The Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) programme The Long Range Discrimination Radar is a layered defence strategy implemented by the US Missile Defence Agency to protect US territory from ballistic missile attacks.

The Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) programme is the backbone of the Missile Defence Agency's layered defence strategy to protect the United States from ballistic missile attack.

LRDR is a long-range radar that will provide precise metric data to improve ballistic defence discrimination and replace existing sensors in the Ballistic Missile Defence System (BMDS). Developed with the mission of protecting the US homeland, the LRDR radar is designed to deal with evolving ballistic missile threats and increase the effectiveness of ground-based interceptors.

The programme builds on the US government's long-term investment in S-Band radar, ground-based radars and systems integration, which is evident in Lockheed Martin technologies such as the Aegis Combat System, Space Fence and Aegis Ashore. This solid-state, gallium nitride (GaN)-based radar utilises Lockheed Martin's Open GaN Foundry model, which strengthens relationships with strategic GaN suppliers.

Video link to the operation of the LRDR System:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBhJTemSKaA

LRDR combines proven solid state radar technologies with proven ballistic missile defence algorithms, all based on an open architecture platform that can accommodate future growth to this end.

Sentinel A4, Sentinel A4 is the World's Leading Air and Missile Defence Radar. It refers to a high-performance surveillance radar that replaces the legacy Sentinel A3, enhancing defence against cruise missiles, UAVs and air threats.

Sentinel A4 is the World's Leading Air and Missile Defence Radar.

Sentinel A4 is a high-performance replacement for the legacy Sentinel A3 (AN/MPQ-64A3) air and missile defence radar that will provide significant improvements to the existing Sentinel capability against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing and fixed-wing threats. Sentinel A4 adds the capability to detect Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM) threats, providing RAM Origin and Point of Impact locations and additional protection against electronic threats.

7. AEGIS The Shield (and the Spear) of the Fleet is an integrated naval weapons system of the naval fleet of the Fleet, called the Shield (and the Spear) of the Fleet. It has been called the most capable combat system in the world.

The AEGIS Combat System is the Floating Combat System of the US Navy and its six International Allies. It refers to the most capable multi-mission combat system deployed in the world today. Aegis incorporates a wide range of sensors and weapons to provide simultaneous integrated air and missile defence, also known as Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability.

The AEGIS System is a combination of separate systems referred to as AEGIS ships and AEGIS Coastal radars. This system also includes the MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) and the AN/SPY-7 radar, the world's latest state-of-the-art radar. Variants of this system are also in use in Japan and Spain.

8. THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) Terminal High Altitude Area Air Defence, or THAAD for short, is a US ground force ballistic missile defence system designed to counter short- and medium-range threats.

The THAAD missile is effective at a range of only 200 kilometres, but has an altitude of 150 kilometres, a capability that few anti-ballistic missiles have, and is effective against ballistic missiles (short-range ballistic missile [SRBM] + medium-range ballistic missile [MRBM]) with a range of 3,000 kilometres.

Developed as part of a layered air defence system with a focus on upper layer protection in areas with air bases and high human population, the system is capable of destroying threats from the exo- and endo-atmospheric layer. A typical THAAD battery consists of nine missile launcher carriers, each carrying eight missiles, two mobile tactical operations command centres, and a ground-based radar system. The missile is 6.17 metres long, weighs 900 kilograms and uses a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne single-stage solid fuel engine.

9. The F-35 is a multi-role, low radar signature, 5th generation fighter aircraft with a wide mission scope, developed under the leadership of the American Lockheed Martin. It has 3 variants with different roles and features. Its development was initiated to replace the aging aircraft of the US Air Force within the scope of the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) programme.

The F-35 is the most advanced node in the 21st Century Security network-centric architecture. On the highly contested battlefield against peer competitors, dominance will be determined by the ability to securely connect high-tech platforms to share information in all domains - air, land, sea, space and cyber. The F35 is therefore the product of an idea based on the acquisition of information and the sharing of this information through other defence systems and command centres.

The F-35 represents the most advanced area of the 21st Century Security network-centric architecture, capable of securely linking high-tech platforms for information sharing in all domains.

The Golden Dome for America is a revolutionary new concept for advancing peace objectives through force and President Trump's vision of deterring enemies from attacking the US homeland.

The shield formed by the entire new generation of air defence systems, called ‘Golden Dome’, will detect incoming missiles, calculate their trajectory and activate the missile defence systems deployed to destroy them in flight, according to Lockheed Martin. It thus represents ‘a totality of US air defence systems redesigned to protect the US homeland and reflect American power’.

Given that Russia is currently developing hypersonic missiles that cannot be detected by NATO air defence systems, the United States wants to develop new technologies and make them compatible with each other in order to consolidate its defence and military power.

In short, Golden Dome is a project to develop, strengthen and harmonise the existing systems in the USA, including control from space.