GoldenDome
PROGRAM dossier

Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America)

Golden Dome

PROGRAM Classified Programs BLACK TRACK

01 Executive_Summary

Gen. Guetlein's missile defense program with 2028 DE demonstration. Explicitly includes neutral particle beams alongside lasers. $452M FY2027 DE budget.

03 Deep_Dive_Intelligence

Intelligence Summary: Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America)

Node Identity: Golden Dome (also called 'Iron Dome for America') is a comprehensive missile defense program led by Gen. Guetlein. It includes a directed energy demonstration scheduled for summer 2028, explicitly including neutral particle beams (NPB) alongside lasers. The FY2027 budget request includes $452M for Golden Dome DE.

Architecture:

  • Exoatmospheric interceptors above 120 km for boost-phase and midcourse defense
  • Both kinetic and non-kinetic effectors solicited
  • 18 prototype contracts awarded November 2025 for boost-phase space-based interceptors
  • NPB is the funded DEW approach ($380M through FY2023)
  • Midcourse solicitation (Dec 2025) is kinetic-only

2028 Convergence: Golden Dome is the policy driver for the 2028 Convergence — the synchronized maturation of 7+ programs in 2027-2029:

  • F-47 NGAD first flight (2028)
  • B-21 Raider operational delivery (2027)
  • Lockheed classified Aeronautics program (2028 profitability)
  • Lockheed classified MFC program (2028 profitability)
  • AFRL/Golden Dome DE demonstration (summer 2028)
  • Eos Atomics NBI deliveries (2028)
  • Casimir Inc. MicroSparc chips (2028)

Strategic Relevance: Golden Dome is the integrating framework for the classified plasma/particle beam weapons program. The 2028 DE demonstration is the public-facing milestone for what may be a multi-component system including NPB (Antares/Eos), charge control (Digibeam), and potentially FRC/plasma weapons (Lockheed MFC).

04 Network_Linkage

Golden Dome connects to: AFRL (DE programs), Antares Nuclear (space-based NPB), Eos Atomics (NBI deliveries), Digibeam (extended range space lethality), Lockheed MFC (franchise weapon), F-47 NGAD (platform), B-21 Raider (platform), Gen. Guetlein (leader). Golden Dome is the policy layer of the system-of-systems.

05b Related_Topics (3)

Field-Reversed Configuration
usa → russia → china → japan → israel →
Compact Fusion Reactor
usa → china → israel →
Directed Energy
usa → russia → china → israel → uk → germany → france → japan →

07 Key_Findings

  • ▸ Exoatmospheric interceptors above 120 km for boost-phase and midcourse defense
  • ▸ Both kinetic and non-kinetic effectors solicited
  • ▸ 18 prototype contracts awarded November 2025 for boost-phase space-based interceptors
  • ▸ NPB is the funded DEW approach ($380M through FY2023)
  • ▸ Midcourse solicitation (Dec 2025) is kinetic-only

10 FAQ

What is Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America)? ▾
Identity: Golden Dome (also called 'Iron Dome for America') is a comprehensive missile defense program led by Gen. Guetlein. It includes a directed energy demonstration scheduled for summer 2028, explicitly including neutral particle beams (NPB) alongside lasers. The FY2027 budget request includes $452M for Golden Dome DE.
What role does Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) play in the research network? ▾
Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) is classified under the "Classified Programs" category, serving as Golden Dome, belonging to the BLACK_TRACK vertical group. Golden Dome connects to: **AFRL** (DE programs), **Antares Nuclear** (space-based NPB), **Eos Atomics** (NBI deliveries), **Digibeam** (extended range space lethality), **Lockheed MFC** (franchise...
What evidence supports the Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) assessment? ▾
The intelligence assessment for Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) is supported by 3 primary sources and 3 citations. Key sources include "Golden Dome Details Begin to Emerge — Air & Space Forces Magazine", "'No longer theoretical': Golden Dome czar touts first steps amid skepticism — Breaking Defense", and "CBO's $1.2 trillion Golden Dome estimate based on bad data: Guetlein — Breaking Defense". These documents provide the evidentiary basis for the analysis.
Where is Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) located or active? ▾
Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) is associated with Washington, DC and US-DC. Geographic coordinates: 38.895;-77.037. This location is documented in the intelligence dossier based on primary source evidence.
What is the Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) program? ▾
Identity: Golden Dome (also called 'Iron Dome for America') is a comprehensive missile defense program led by Gen. Guetlein. It includes a directed energy demonstration scheduled for summer 2028, explicitly including neutral particle beams (NPB) alongside lasers. The FY2027 budget request includes $452M for Golden Dome DE.
What is the strategic context of Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America)? ▾
Golden Dome connects to: AFRL (DE programs), Antares Nuclear (space-based NPB), Eos Atomics (NBI deliveries), Digibeam (extended range space lethality), Lockheed MFC (franchise weapon), F-47 NGAD (platform), B-21 Raider (platform), Gen. Guetlein (leader). Golden Dome is the policy layer of the system-of-systems.
How does Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) fit into the broader intelligence network? ▾
Golden Dome connects to: AFRL (DE programs), Antares Nuclear (space-based NPB), Eos Atomics (NBI deliveries), Digibeam (extended range space lethality), Lockheed MFC (franchise weapon), F-47 NGAD (platform), B-21 Raider (platform), Gen. Guetlein (leader). Golden Dome is the policy layer of the system-of-systems.
What external sources document Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America)? ▾
Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) is documented by 3 external sources, including 3 news article. Notable references include "Golden Dome Details Begin to Emerge — Air & Space Forces Magazine", "'No longer theoretical': Golden Dome czar touts first steps amid skepticism — Breaking Defense", and "CBO's $1.2 trillion Golden Dome estimate based on bad data: Guetlein — Breaking Defense".
Why is Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) considered classified or significant? ▾
Identity: Golden Dome (also called 'Iron Dome for America') is a comprehensive missile defense program led by Gen. Guetlein. It includes a directed energy demonstration scheduled for summer 2028, explicitly including neutral particle beams (NPB) alongside lasers. The FY2027 budget request includes $452M for Golden Dome DE.
What is the historical timeline for Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America)? ▾
Golden Dome (Iron Dome for America) is referenced across documents spanning 2025–2029, with activity noted in 2025, 2027, and 2028. This temporal range is derived from the primary source documents in the research archive.

Citations 3

  1. [1]
  2. [2]
  3. [3]

Verified_Primary_Sources 3 SOURCES

secondary airandspaceforces.com news_article
Golden Dome Details Begin to Emerge — Air & Space Forces Magazine
Verifies: Gen. Guetlein says operational capability by summer 2028; 18 Other Transaction Agreements awarded for space-based interceptors; Golden Dome established by Trump executive order January 2025
External Link ↗
secondary breakingdefense.com news_article
'No longer theoretical': Golden Dome czar touts first steps amid skepticism — Breaking Defense
Verifies: Golden Dome projected cost upwards of $185 billion with $17 billion for FY2027; First publicly acknowledged elements including ALPS radar at Ft. Story; Contracts being awarded, sites being scouted
External Link ↗
secondary breakingdefense.com news_article
CBO's $1.2 trillion Golden Dome estimate based on bad data: Guetlein — Breaking Defense
Verifies: CBO estimated Golden Dome could cost up to $1.2 trillion over 20 years; Guetlein pushed back saying CBO used old technology and incorrect assumptions
External Link ↗

Geographic_Data

Region: US-DC
Location: Washington, DC
Coordinates: 38.895;-77.037
Locate on Graph ← Back to Dossiers
ID: GoldenDome
Type: program
Region: main
Last updated: Research database snapshot