Initiated one year ago, the Golden Dome missile-defense program, championed by former President Donald Trump, aspires to deploy an advanced, all-encompassing homeland missile-defense network capable of safeguarding the United States by the year 2028. However, according to recent reports, the initiative is languishing behind schedule, as technical challenges and internal contentions regarding its space-based defense components have hindered meaningful advancement.
Conceived via an executive order issued last year, the Golden Dome program was allocated $25 billion to realize its ambitious objective. Yet, the disbursement and utilization of these funds have progressed slowly, primarily due to protracted deliberations over the program’s space-based architecture.
Key areas of contention focus on the integration of classified space-based systems which may encompass anti-satellite capabilities. Such elements have provoked debates concerning the compatibility of offensive anti-satellite weapons within the parameters of a defensive missile shield framework. This is particularly sensitive in the context of the United States’ historical stance opposing the deployment of anti-satellite weapons, combined with its international criticism of China’s 2007 anti-satellite missile test.
These internal discussions have consequently delayed critical procurement processes. The program’s director, General Michael Guetlein, reportedly remains unable to initiate purchase contracts for existing missile defense hardware pending the resolution of these strategic and technical issues.
Despite these obstacles, some progress has been made. The U.S. Space Force allocated several minor Golden Dome contracts in November, engaging multiple defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman, Anduril, and True Anomaly. These contracts, amounting to roughly $120,000 each across six awards, are designated for the development of competing missile defense prototype systems, representing the program's first tangible steps toward materializing its objectives.
In contrast to the program’s slow pace, contractors like Lockheed Martin have expressed optimism and readiness. Notably, during its third-quarter 2025 earnings call, Lockheed Martin’s CEO, Jim Taiclet, indicated the company’s preparedness and advantageous positioning to support the Homeland Defense mission, inclusive of the Golden Dome missile defense system. This confidence underscores industry anticipation of eventual program advancement, despite current hurdles.
Further underscoring the initiative’s strategic importance, Donald Trump recently highlighted the significance of Greenland during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He emphasized Greenland as a vital national security interest and reiterated intentions to integrate it into the Golden Dome missile-defense framework. This focus underscores the administration’s commitment to asserting defensive capabilities in geopolitically strategic regions.
Nonetheless, the existing delays in the Golden Dome project raise questions regarding the United States’ ability to maintain a technological edge, especially amid growing competition from China. Notably, in October, reports emerged that a Chinese team has developed an early-stage data processing system employed by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This system reportedly integrates multi-domain sensor inputs to detect and counter airborne threats on a global scale. If validated, it could be the first air defense system with worldwide operational reach, potentially outpacing the U.S. Golden Dome initiative.
The juxtaposition of the American program's slow advancement with China's apparent strides in global air defense technologies reflects a shifting dynamic in missile and aerospace defense capabilities internationally. The outcome of these developments will significantly influence future balances in national security and defense deterrence strategies.