The costliest protection system of all time, the US Golden Dome promoted by President Donald Trump, is getting underway, though no person is aware of precisely what it would seem like, what threats it would defend towards and the way a lot it would value. The estimated finances ranges from $150 billion to $500 billion. Trump needs to finish the protection system by the top of the administration’s time period in 2029, and the Missile Protection Company will quickly situation a name for proposals for protection industries to use for inclusion within the enormous mission, introduced over the weekend.
The Golden Dome multi layered system will defend towards among the most critical threats to the US, together with hypersonic missiles launched from the bottom or from area, swarms of drones, and even “engineered asteroids” – big missiles designed to crash into the ocean and create tsunamis.
Regardless of Trump’s grandiose declarations, the start of the system has been characterised primarily by chaos. The threats Golden Dome will handle and the construction of the system haven’t but been outlined, and it was solely every week in the past that the Senate confirmed the appointment of Normal Michael Gottlieb as head of the mission. He formally assumed workplace solely this week.
The finances is controversial. Whereas Trump promised to allocate $175 billion to function the system inside three years, it now seems that it’ll stand at about $150 billion unfold over a decade, whereas in keeping with a Might congressional estimate, the finances may swell to about $500 million over 20 years. Nonetheless, the primary Congressional invoice for the mission stands at $25 billion “solely” for the aim of beginning it.
Israeli corporations can not compete for tenders by themselves
The title of the futuristic missile protection system is much like Iron Dome however it has nothing in frequent with the Israeli system. Whereas Iron Dome was developed to take care of short-range ballistic missiles such because the Kassam and Grad missiles, the US goals to design Golden Dome to take care of maneuvering hypersonic missiles that cruise on an unpredictable trajectory at supersonic pace (the anticipated risk state of affairs from a superpower like China), in addition to towards different aerial threats equivalent to drones and missiles fired from area.
Over the weekend, it was discovered that the Pentagon will situation a name for related corporations that can be capable of compete within the tenders when they’re introduced, inside 60 days, Normal Gottlieb will current the essential structure of the system.
Estimates in Israel are that a number of Israeli corporations are already on the point of take part within the tenders however they won’t be able to compete by themselves however solely in partnership with US corporations.
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Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) is fascinated with collaborating within the radar and risk detection tender. IAI’s Elta unit develops and manufactures the Oren Adir detection radar system, which is on the coronary heart of the Arrow long-range missile protection system. IAI additionally sees itself as a related provider within the area of interception, having developed Arrow 3 missiles to intercept long-range ballistic missiles launched in area, in addition to subsequently interception missiles that additionally take care of maneuvering hypersonic missiles, which require larger sophistication of their interception.
IAI highlights its long-standing expertise in coping with ballistic missiles, demonstrated not too long ago throughout Iranian assaults, however Lockheed Martin’s THAAD missiles have additionally gained some expertise. However the price of detecting and intercepting missiles by the Arrow is estimated to be 25% of that by the US system. The Arrow 3 has additionally confirmed efficient in operations outdoors the environment, a prerequisite for Golden Dome, which goals to function interceptor launchers in area.
Rafael Superior Protection Programs, one other Israeli firm fascinated with Golden Dome tenders, presents knowhow and expertise in laser interception. Rafael develops and produces the Iron Beam laser interception system, which might be delivered to the Israel Air Power by the top of the yr and might be deployed for operational use in early 2026. Rafael will compete with laser producers from the UK and South Korea, however will attempt to persuade senior Pentagon officers that it’s the solely system to have to this point demonstrated operational laser interception throughout a struggle.
The dispute with Trump may hurt SpaceX’s probabilities
As for US corporations, a number of have already formally expressed curiosity within the mission, together with Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. Software program and intelligence techniques supplier L3 Harris has additionally introduced curiosity in taking part.
Anduril, which is difficult the protection industries by growing plane and cruise missiles for the US Ministry of Protection has a low likelihood of taking part as a result of it doesn’t focus on air protection. However Palantir is taken into account a number one candidate within the satellite tv for pc intelligence techniques class and nicely positioned to develop the command and management system for your entire program.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is a pure candidate to launch satellite tv for pc techniques and intelligence satellites into area, however deteriorating relations with Trump have led Golden Dome executives to speak to rivals like Amazon’s Mission Kuiper and rising corporations Stoke House and Rocket Lab, Reuters studies. However SpaceX remains to be the main supplier within the area with over 9,000 satellites launched into area so far.
Raytheon and Lockheed Martin – the businesses liable for growing the THAAD, Patriot, and Aegis naval techniques – could block competitors from younger corporations by claiming that they’re the one specialists in intercepting ballistic missiles within the US. Nonetheless, it’s estimated that the gamers might be chosen who can supply techniques that embrace not solely a excessive risk detection price but additionally a low value per interception. Moreover, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon know the right way to take care of ballistic missiles however not with the newer and extra subtle threats, together with missiles that may maneuver within the air, or fall from area.
“Individuals should assume outdoors the field”
“The US problem is twofold. The Chinese language and Russians right now have twice the variety of interceptors that the US will be capable of produce within the subsequent 5 years, and they’re promoting hypersonic missiles to their allies, so the Individuals should assume outdoors the field and never produce greater than they have already got,” says Dr. Moshik Cohen, a former senior developer of the David’s Sling, Barak 8, and Iron Dome techniques and at present CEO of defense-tech firm Apex, which offers with drone and hypersonic missile interception applied sciences.
Cohen explains that the extent of threats has elevated. “It is now not nearly ballistic missiles with a predictable trajectory, however about extraordinarily quick hypersonic missiles that maneuver within the air, swarms of drones that may even embrace a whole lot of hundreds of items, and missiles which are launched vertically from area.”
There’s additionally a brand new risk: “engineered asteroids.” In accordance with Cohen, these are tungsten blocks weighing a few hundred tons that could be launched into area and from there to chose factors within the ocean. “The explosion may create an enormous tsunami wave that would attain a top of 400 meters. Present techniques usually are not able to dealing with all these threats, so recent considering and management are required to harness the protection trade and US management to supply one thing new, in massive portions and cheaply.”
Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on July 29, 2025.
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