Lockheed Martin is designing a space-based missile interceptor and aims to test the technology for potential integration into former President Donald Trump’s "Golden Dome" defense shield within the next three years. (Lockheed Martin )
Lockheed’s space interceptor project directly supports Trump’s "Golden Dome for America" initiative, first unveiled in May 2025. The ambitious missile defense concept calls for a global constellation of satellites armed with sensors and interceptors, designed to detect, track and eliminate advanced missile threats – including hypersonic and ballistic weapons – before they can strike U.S. soil.
The idea echoes President Ronald Reagan’s 1983 Strategic Defense Initiative, often dubbed "Star Wars," which was dismissed at the time as science fiction. But today, the technologies once seen as far-fetched are rapidly advancing, according to defense leaders.
Gen. Michael Guetlein, appointed by the Trump administration to head Golden Dome, emphasized that key components of the system already exist, expressing confidence in achieving a test-ready platform by 2028. Still, it’s no easy feat.
"Intercepting a missile in orbit is a pretty wicked hard problem physics‑wise," said Jeff Schrader, vice president of Lockheed’s space division. "But not impossible," he added, noting breakthroughs in maneuverability and guidance systems.
Analysts caution that to make the Golden Dome vision a reality, the U.S. may need to launch thousands of interceptors into orbit. Some have compared it to the Cold War–era "Brilliant Pebbles" program, which proposed a similar space-based missile shield but was eventually shelved due to skyrocketing costs and technical hurdles.
Lockheed hopes to incorporate space-based missile interceptors into Golden Dome. (Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed remains a central player in the Pentagon’s broader missile defense and hypersonic weapons development effort. It is the prime contractor for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), which is targeting an initial operating capability by the end of fiscal year 2028.
Simultaneously, the company is fulfilling Navy contracts for its Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapons system. Sea-based deployment of CPS is expected to begin between 2027 and 2028.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
President Trump has publicly stated he wants Golden Dome operational by the end of his term. But industry officials warn that supply chain limitations and the Pentagon’s slow-moving procurement system make full deployment by 2029 unlikely.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lockheed-martin-test-missile-killing-satellite-2028