Lockheed Martin is currently in the process of designing a space-based missile interceptor with the goal of testing the technology for potential incorporation into President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” defense shield within the next three years.
The defense contractor recently announced its plans to test a satellite defensive weapon capable of destroying hypersonic missiles by 2028. If successful, this would be the first time in history that the United States has deployed interceptors in space to eliminate enemy missiles before they reach American soil. Lockheed is exploring various technologies, including lasers and kinetic satellites, that could maneuver and target high-speed threats in flight.
Amanda Pound, the mission strategy and advanced capabilities director at Lockheed Martin Space, stated, “We have missile warning and tracking satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin currently in orbit that provide timely detection and warning of missile threats. We are dedicated to making space-based interceptors for missile defense a reality, drawing on our extensive experience, investments, and industry partnerships to be prepared for on-orbit testing in 2028.”
Lockheed’s space interceptor initiative directly aligns with Trump’s “Golden Dome for America” program, which was introduced in May 2025. This ambitious missile defense concept envisions a global network of satellites equipped with sensors and interceptors to identify, track, and eliminate advanced missile threats, such as hypersonic and ballistic weapons, before they can impact the United States.
The concept bears similarities to President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative from 1983, often referred to as “Star Wars,” which was initially dismissed as science fiction. However, advancements in technology have made once-futuristic ideas more feasible, according to defense experts.
Gen. Michael Guetlein, appointed by the Trump administration to lead the Golden Dome initiative, expressed confidence in achieving a test-ready platform by 2028. Despite the challenges, such as intercepting missiles in orbit being a complex physics problem, Lockheed’s vice president of space division, Jeff Schrader, believes breakthroughs in maneuverability and guidance systems make it achievable.
While Golden Dome is projected to cost $175 billion, with $25 billion already approved by Congress, long-term estimates suggest the program could exceed $830 billion over two decades. This raises concerns about the program’s affordability and sustainability in the long run.
In addition to the space-based system, Lockheed is enhancing ground-based missile defense systems. The company successfully simulated intercepting hypersonic medium-range missiles aboard the USS Pinckney using the Aegis Combat System during the FTX-40 exercise named Stellar Banshee in March 2025. Furthermore, Lockheed is developing infrared seeker technology for interceptors to improve tracking and targeting fast-moving missiles during their terminal phase.
Lockheed remains a key player in the Pentagon’s missile defense and hypersonic weapons development efforts. The company is the prime contractor for the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), aiming for initial operating capability by the end of fiscal year 2028. Simultaneously, Lockheed is fulfilling Navy contracts for the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapons system, with sea-based deployment expected to commence between 2027 and 2028.
President Trump has expressed his desire for Golden Dome to be operational by the end of his term. However, industry officials caution that challenges such as supply chain limitations and the Pentagon’s slow procurement process may hinder full deployment by 2029.
