Pentagon spokesman: Draft architecture developed for proposed "Golden Dome" air and missile defense system

Pentagon spokesman: Draft architecture developed for proposed "Golden Dome" air and missile defense system

The Pentagon has recently developed a draft architecture for the proposed "Golden Dome" air and missile defense system, an initiative that has drawn significant attention and controversy since its inception. The project, initially dubbed "Iron Dome for America," aims to protect the entire United States from aerial threats, drawing parallels to Israel's Iron Dome system. However, the feasibility and cost of such a system have been met with skepticism.

The Golden Dome project, first made official with a January 27 executive order, has been compared to the Manhattan Project and President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) by various officials. Gen. Michael Guetlein, Space Force vice chief, likened it to the Manhattan Project, while acting DoD official Steven J. Morani referred to it as a "monster systems engineering problem." The project is seen as critical for defense amidst increasingly perilous geopolitical conditions, but its questionable feasibility and potential exorbitant cost have raised concerns.

The Pentagon has solicited industry input, with contractors like Lockheed Martin and RTX (formerly Raytheon) expressing their eagerness to participate. The Defense Department has received over 360 company concept papers and is reviewing a proposal from Anduril, Palantir, and SpaceX. The project's feasibility, however, is challenged by the need to counter long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which Israel's Iron Dome cannot intercept. Previous attempts to develop long-range interceptors have failed, raising doubts about the success of the Golden Dome project.

The Pentagon's insiders have emphasized the project's conceptual nature, with a source familiar with internal discussions stating that "Golden Dome is really an idea." The likelihood of long-range attacks that Golden Dome would theoretically protect against is also questioned, with experts suggesting that such actions would not be in the interests of adversaries like China or Russia. The project's potential cost has been estimated at $100 billion per year through 2030 by former Pentagon comptroller Dov Zakheim, and even higher by Ret. Air Force Lt. General Richard Newton, who suggested a cost of $2.5 trillion.

Experts have expressed fears that the Golden Dome project could inflame geopolitical tensions and encourage an arms race. Geoff Wilson, from the Stimson Center, questioned the return on investment and the potential for furthering a global nuclear arms race. William Hartung, a Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, emphasized the need for arms control talks rather than expensive defense systems.

The Pentagon's development of a draft architecture for the Golden Dome system marks a significant step in the project's progress. However, the project's feasibility and the potential costs remain major concerns, with both the industry and experts cautioning against the project's likelihood of success and its potential impact on geopolitical stability.

References:
[1] https://responsiblestatecraft.org/golden-dome/