WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday night, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at bolstering America’s missile defense. Dubbed “The Iron Dome for America,” the order outlines an ambitious plan to protect the homeland from threats like ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. It also emphasizes developing cutting-edge technology, including space-based interceptors.
Executive Order: The Iron Dome for America
“This is about building the greatest missile defense system the world has ever seen,” Trump said talking about the executive action. “It’s an Iron Dome, made right here in America.”
The executive order directs Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to draft a plan within 60 days. The strategy must include multilayered defenses capable of intercepting threats in various stages of flight—before launch, during boost, and in terminal phases. It also calls for non-kinetic systems, like directed energy weapons, to support traditional interceptors.
“Over the past 40 years, threats from advanced weapons have only grown,” the order states. “This administration will meet these threats head-on, ensuring America’s safety through strength and innovation.”
A Space-Based Shield
A key feature of the plan is the deployment of space-based interceptors. These systems, designed to detect and neutralize missiles during their boost phase, represent a significant technological leap. The Pentagon is also tasked with accelerating existing programs, such as the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer, and ensuring secure supply chains for all components.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., praised the move but warned of the challenges ahead. “Israel’s Iron Dome works in a much smaller area,” Wicker noted. “Building something like that for the United States, with a space-based component, will cost tens of billions. But it’s a must.”
Comparisons to Israel’s Iron Dome
The name “Iron Dome” is borrowed from Israel’s air defense system, which successfully intercepts rockets and drones. However, experts note that America’s needs are vastly different. Israel’s Iron Dome defends a small area; the U.S. would require a broader, more complex network.
Chris Calio, CEO of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), sounded optimistic about the challenge. “We’re a major partner in Israel’s Iron Dome,” Calio said during a quarterly earnings call. “Here in the U.S., the system will need to evolve to address longer-range threats and infrastructure protection. But we’re ready to step up.”
Budget and Allies
While the executive order does not specify funding, it directs the Pentagon to incorporate the plan into its fiscal 2026 budget request. Analysts predict costs could climb into the tens of billions.
In addition to protecting the homeland, the order prioritizes theater defenses for forward-deployed U.S. forces and aims to enhance missile defense capabilities for allies. Canada, for example, is working with the U.S. on over-the-horizon radar to monitor Arctic threats, as part of a broader NORAD modernization effort.
Industry and Military Response
Defense companies are already gearing up. “Layered, integrated missile defense systems are our bread and butter,” Calio said. “This executive order is a huge opportunity.”
The Army and Marine Corps are also advancing missile defense technologies. Programs like the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) and High-Energy Lasers are in development. On Guam, the Army is deploying a new air defense system that integrates radar, interceptors, and command centers.
Critics and Questions
While supporters hail the order as necessary for national security, skeptics question its feasibility. Developing space-based interceptors and deploying them at scale will require significant time, money, and technological breakthroughs.
Others note the lack of specifics in the executive order. “It’s a bold vision, but the details are thin,” said one defense analyst. “How this plays out in practice remains to be seen.”
Despite these challenges, Trump remains confident. “We will protect our country like never before,” he said Monday. “This is peace through strength.”
As the Pentagon begins drafting its plan, all eyes are on how this ambitious vision will materialize—and whether it can deliver on the promise of an “Iron Dome for America.”