Earlier this year, I noted that the Chinese were unhappy with U.S. plans for a massive missile defense system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome.
President Donald Trump, who appears quite fond of gold, and his team subsequently announced that the first test of the Golden Dome will be in 2028. The system is designed to shield this country, and potentially some of our allies, from advanced missile threats, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.
Lockheed Martin is preparing to conduct an on‑orbit test of a space‑based anti‑missile interceptor within the projected timeframe.
Lockheed Martin is aiming to conduct an on-orbit demonstration of at least one space-based anti-missile interceptor design no later than 2028. Interceptors deployed in space have been billed as a key element of the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative, but present considerable technical hurdles.Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet talked about his company’s space-based interceptor plans and other work relating to Golden Dome during a quarterly earnings call today. In July, Northrop Grumman had separately disclosed the existence of an active competition for Golden Dome’s space-based interceptor component.“We also submitted proposals for space-based interceptors and other emerging technologies,” Taiclet said. “We’re actually planning for a real on-orbit, space-based interceptor demonstration by 2028.”
Industry professionals indicate that many of the key components needed for the full Golden Dome system are in place.
The idea echoes President Ronald Reagan’s 1983 Strategic Defense Initiative, often dubbed “Star Wars,” which was dismissed at the time as science fiction. But today, the technologies once seen as far-fetched are rapidly advancing, according to defense leaders.Gen. Michael Guetlein, appointed by the Trump administration to head Golden Dome, emphasized that key components of the system already exist, expressing confidence in achieving a test-ready platform by 2028. Still, it’s no easy feat.”Intercepting a missile in orbit is a pretty wicked hard problem physics‑wise,” said Jeff Schrader, vice president of Lockheed’s space division. “But not impossible,” he added, noting breakthroughs in maneuverability and guidance systems.
Meanwhile, another satellite manufacturer has a test slated for next year.
Satellite manufacturer Apex announced it plans to launch a space-based missile interceptor demonstration next summer—the latest company to unveil plans to prototype technology that could contribute to the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile defense project.The Los Angeles-based firm said it will self-fund a demonstration of an interceptor host platform called Orbital Magazine. For the mission, one of Apex’s Nova satellite buses equipped with a software-defined radio will transmit and receive communications and provide power, heat, and environmental support for the interceptors.CEO Ian Cinnamon told Air & Space Forces Magazine the demonstration, which the company is calling “Project Shadow,” is less about the interceptors—which will not be live—and more about proving the enabling technology works. While Apex is angling for a role in Golden Dome, the effort isn’t just a sales pitch, he said, but a chance to mature technology the U.S. military has said is central to homeland defense.
For those interested, here is a nice concept video from the U.S. Space Force.
Reports indicate that it may be a race with China to see who gets the missile intercept system in place first.
A Chinese research team claims it has developed a working prototype of a data processing system that could allow the country to detect and respond to airborne threats anywhere in the world—and says it has already been deployed by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).Though still in its early stages, the system is said to leverage breakthroughs in big data to integrate multi-domain sensor information. If successful, it would become the first known air defense system with global reach—well before President Donald Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative gets off the ground.
China’s claims and world realities can be two different things. It will be interesting to see how much progress will be made next year on the system.
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