Lockheed Martin to test Space Interceptor by 2028 for Golden Dome

Lockheed Martin designs a space missile interceptor and aims to test technology for potential integration into the “Golden Dome” defense shield of President Donald Trump over the next three years.

The defense entrepreneur revealed this week that he hoped to test a satellite interceptor capable of destroying hypersonic missiles by 2028.

In case of success, this would mark the first time in history, the United States has deployed interceptors in space to destroy enemy missiles before reaching the fatherland. Lockheed still weighs different technologies, ranging from lasers to kinetic satellites that could maneuver and hit high -speed targets in flight.

“We have warning and monitoring missiles of satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin in orbit today who provide timely detection and warnings for missile threats,” said Amanda Pound, director of mission strategy and advanced capacities at Lockheed Martin Space, in Fox News Digital.

“We are committed to making the space interceptor for anti -missile defense a reality, taking advantage of our decades of experience, investments and industry partnerships, to be ready for orbit tests in 2028.”

Trump reveals the missile shield of the golden dome, the Stride the main senators

Lockheed Martin designs a space missile interceptor and aims to test technology for potential integration into the “Golden Dome” defense shield of former President Donald Trump over the next three years. (Lockheed Martin)

The Space Interceptor project of Lockheed directly supports Trump’s “Golden Dome For America” initiative, unveiled for the first time in May 2025. The ambitious concept of missile defense called for a global constellation of satellite armed with sensors and interceptors, designed to detect, follow and eliminate threats of advanced missiles – including hypersonic and ballistic weapons – before they cannot hit American soils.

The idea echoes the 1983 strategic defense initiative by President Ronald Reagan, often nicknamed “Star Wars”, which was rejected at the time as science fiction. But today, technologies which, formerly considered eccentric, quickly advance, according to defense leaders.

General Michael Guetlein, appointed by the Trump administration to direct Golden Dome, stressed that the main components of the system already exist, expressing confidence in carrying out a ready platform for tests by 2028. However, it is not easy.

“Intercepting an orbit missile is a fairly difficult problem of physics,” said Jeff Schrader, vice-president of the Lockheed space division. “But not impossible,” he added, noting breakthroughs in maneuverability and orientation systems.

Analysts warn that to make the vision of the golden dome a reality, the United States may need to launch thousands of orbit interceptors. Some compared it to the “Brilliant Pebbles” program of the Cold War, which proposed a shield of similar space missiles, but was finally put aside due to costs and technical obstacles.

The Trump administration wants Golden Dome to be completed before the president leaves him. (SOMODEVILLA / GETTY Images)

Golden Dome should currently cost $ 175 billion, with $ 25 billion already approved by the congress. But long -term estimates vary from $ 161 billion to more than $ 830 billion over two decades, which raises questions about the affordability of the program and long -term sustainability.

Trump’s `Golden Dome ‘will need efforts on the scale of the Manhattan project on a project scale, warns General Space Force.

Meanwhile, Lockheed strengthens anti -missile defense systems on the ground to complete the orbital layer. In March 2025, the company’s AEGIS combat system on board the USS Pinckney successfully simulated the interception of medium-range hypersonic missiles during the FTX-40 exercise, the name of Banshee stellar codes.

Company also advances the technology of infrared researchers for interceptors, which would improve the monitoring and targeting of rapidly evolving missiles in their terminal phase.

Lockheed hopes to incorporate interceptors of space missiles in Golden Dome. (Lockheed Martin)

Lockheed remains a central actor in the wider anti -missile defense of the Pentagon and the effort to develop hypersonic weapons. This is the main entrepreneur for the next generation interceptor (NGI), who targets an initial operating capacity by the end of the 2028 fiscal year.

Simultaneously, the company performs naval contracts for its system of hypersonic weapons of rapid strike (CPS) conventional. The deployment in the CPS sea should start between 2027 and 2028.

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President Trump publicly said he wanted Golden Dome to be operational at the end of his mandate. But industry officials warn that the limitations of the supply chain and the slow supply system of the Pentagon make complete deployment by 2029.