Washington, D.C. (Agencies): Former President Donald Trump is set to review three proposals for the Golden Dome missile-defense system next week, a defense official said. The ambitious project, which aims to create an advanced missile shield, may require the Pentagon to establish a new organization to oversee its development.
A specialized “tiger team” consisting of experts from various defense and military agencies is drafting proposals with different levels of complexity. However, all options are expected to demand greater coordination than what the current Missile Defense Agency can handle, the official stated. Two other sources familiar with the discussions confirmed that plans are already underway to create a dedicated office, with potential candidates being considered for leadership roles.
The Golden Dome initiative is in its early stages, but the Pentagon is focused on achieving near-term objectives—such as enhancing ground-based missile interceptors—before the 2026 midterm elections. More advanced elements, such as a network of satellites designed to track and destroy incoming missiles, could take five to seven years to develop, the defense official noted.
The Pentagon recently received over 360 responses to a request for information, with submissions covering new sensor technologies, encryption methods, and integrated defense systems. Major defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, and RTX, are among those interested in contributing to the project. While SpaceX, known for its satellite and launch capabilities, would be well-positioned to participate, sources suggested the company may not find the project attractive due to limited benefits for its broader business ventures.
One of the most innovative proposals comes from Booz Allen Hamilton, which has pitched “Brilliant Swarms”—a constellation of thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites capable of autonomously tracking and intercepting ballistic missiles within minutes of launch. Each small satellite, roughly the size of a refrigerator, would act as a kill vehicle, directly colliding with incoming warheads to neutralize threats before they deploy.
Booz Allen claims that if selected, it could demonstrate the technology in space within four years and achieve initial operational capability within five to seven years. However, defense experts warn that the Golden Dome project faces a fundamental challenge: cost-effectiveness. Missiles are significantly cheaper and easier to produce than interceptors, meaning adversaries could potentially outpace the system by building more missiles than the defense network could neutralize.
Despite these concerns, the Golden Dome initiative represents one of the most ambitious missile-defense efforts in history. As Trump evaluates the options, the Pentagon is preparing to take the next steps in shaping the future of U.S. missile defense strategy.