According to Bloomberg, the U.S. Department of Defense is gearing up to complete the initial phase of tests for its space-based missile defense program, the "Golden Dome," by the end of 2026. This multi-year plan aims to develop a layered defense system to protect the United States from missile threats.
The agency reports that more advanced flight trials and demonstrations are anticipated to start in 2027. This phase will include launching interceptor models into space and testing their integration in a comprehensive detection and interception system.
Sources reveal that the U.S. Space Force's prototype program will develop three types of interceptors, control systems for fire operations, ground support, and the integration of diverse technologies into a single defense network.
The timeline includes ground tests, two space flight tests, and a technological demonstration of an actual intercept by 2029, requiring participating companies to prove their systems can track and intercept a test target.
Flight tests are scheduled for 2027 and 2028, with the final demonstration set for 2029. The U.S. Space Force plans to begin purchasing successful systems starting in 2030.
Launched by President Donald Trump in 2025, the "Golden Dome" project is one of the most significant defense initiatives aimed at creating a multi-layered network capable of combating ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. The system will integrate satellite tracking with space and ground-based interceptors.
In May 2025, Trump announced the project's estimated cost at around $175 billion, as Washington seeks to operationalize key components of the system by 2029.