Space and Defense
Abstract
The “Golden Dome” initiative [formerly Iron Dome] was announced by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2025, signifying a transformative shift in global space security policy. It fundamentally questions long-standing assumptions about deterrence, national vulnerability to missile attacks, and the role of space in strategic defense. More importantly, it emerges at a moment of acute strategic transition: the erosion of Cold War arms control frameworks, the rapid advancement of hypersonic and orbital delivery systems, and the growing integration of space into warfighting doctrines. Launched via a presidential memorandum in January 2025, Golden Dome calls for a layered missile defense system supported by a space-based architecture to address advanced threats, including hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs), intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), cruise missiles, and various theater ballistic missiles. The directive emphasizes proliferated space-based interceptors, a custody layer of tracking satellites, and pre-launch defeat mechanisms. These developments collectively signal a shift from deterrence by punishment toward deterrence by denial.
DOI
10.32873/uno.dc.sd.17.01.1336
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Goswami, Namrata
(2026)
"Golden Dome: Seeking Space Security,"
Space and Defense: Vol. 17:
No.
1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.32873/uno.dc.sd.17.01.1336
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/spaceanddefense/vol17/iss1/5
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