Golden Dome cost rises to $185 billion as new contractors join

The Golden Dome missile defense shield program will now cost $185 billion, an increase of $10 billion from its previous budget, according to the program’s director on Tuesday. The additional funding will accelerate space-based capabilities.

Space Force General Michael Guetlein, who manages Golden Dome, announced at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Arlington, Virginia, that three major defense contractors have joined the program as prime contractors. Lockheed Martin, RTX and Northrop Grumman are now part of the initiative.

The extra $10 billion will support three specific programs, Guetlein said. These include the Advanced Missile Tracking Initiative, a space data network, and the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, or HBTSS - a space-based sensor system built to detect and track hypersonic and ballistic missile threats.

The $185 billion budget covers what Guetlein described as the "objective architecture," a full-capability system planned for delivery over the next decade.

Guetlein dismissed external cost estimates that have projected the program could exceed $1 trillion. He said those calculations incorrectly apply the costs of expensive, self-contained battlefield systems designed for overseas combat to a homeland defense mission that requires a different and less expensive approach.

The general highlighted the command-and-control system as Golden Dome’s key component. A nine-company consortium manages this element, which began as a self-formed group of six firms before the three major contractors joined as prime partners.

The consortium provides weekly briefings to Guetlein every Thursday evening and has the authority to remove underperforming members through a voting process.

Space-based interceptors represent the program’s highest-risk element, according to Guetlein. He identified scalability and affordability as the main challenges for this component. Directed energy weapons and next-generation artificial intelligence offer the most potential for reducing cost-per-kill and increasing magazine depth, he said.

Golden Dome plans to expand ground-based defenses including interceptor missiles, sensors and command-and-control systems. The program will also add space-based elements designed to detect, track and potentially counter incoming threats from orbit. These space-based components include advanced satellite networks and orbital weaponry still under consideration.

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/golden-dome-cost-rises-185-180612040.html