Real Clear Defense
In response to his January executive order, President Trump will soon consider options developed by the Pentagon for a technologically advanced “next generation” missile defense system, known as Golden Dome. The goal of this initiative is to protect the homeland against threats and potential attacks from an expanding array of strategic weapons, including ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles.
Considerable public discussion has been paid to the capabilities this initiative might deliver. Less has been paid to the organizational structure, acquisition authorities, and leadership. All of these elements will be necessary to deliver the executive order’s goals.
The Golden Dome signals a welcome interest in more comprehensive air and missile defenses for the homeland. It aims to move beyond the missile defense policy framework established decades ago in a far more benign strategic threat environment. That policy narrowly confined the homeland defense posture to a small number of ground-based interceptors and radars to defend against a handful of ballistic missiles from regional powers. Given the ascendance of Russia and China as significant great power competitors, the role of missile defense should be realigned to provide a measure of protection from any adversary who might seek to threaten or strike the United States.
