Lockheed Martin Prepares Space-Based Interceptor for 2028 Under Golden Dome Initiative.

On August 5, 2025, during a press briefing held at its Huntsville, Alabama, facility, Lockheed Martin announced its intention to test, by 2028, a space-based interceptor capable of destroying maneuverable hypersonic missiles. The statement, made by Amanda Pound, Director of Advanced Programs Development, marks a strategic step in the broader U.S. missile defense effort known as the Golden Dome, as reported by Defense One. Behind the announcement lies the objective of providing the United States with an orbital interception capability in response to the growing threat posed by hypersonic missile systems developed by China and Russia. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

In this evolving strategic context, the Golden Dome is being considered as a response to a more complex missile threat environment. (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

The core of the Golden Dome could be based on a constellation of orbital interceptors designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming missiles before they reach their targets. Amanda Pound indicated on Monday that Lockheed Martin is exploring multiple concepts, including orbital lasers and satellites that convert into maneuverable kinetic projectiles. According to her, the company already has the capabilities needed to deploy a demonstrator in orbit by 2028.

The concept of space-based interceptors is not new. In the 1960s, the U.S. attempted to pursue this vision through the BAMBI program (Ballistic Missile Boost Intercept), which was eventually cancelled for budgetary reasons. In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan revived the concept under the Strategic Defense Initiative, commonly known as Star Wars. One of the key outcomes of that effort was the Brilliant Pebbles concept, a network of satellites designed to launch small interceptors at incoming strategic missiles. Although that program was also canceled in 1994, it has regained relevance in light of advancements made by Russia and China, which now possess hypersonic missiles capable of evasive maneuvers and, in some cases, space-based offensive systems. Russia has employed such systems in combat, though some have reportedly been intercepted.

In this evolving strategic context, the Golden Dome is being considered as a response to a more complex missile threat environment. Despite ongoing debates regarding the technical and financial feasibility of various components, there is broad recognition of the need to substantially enhance U.S. missile defense capabilities. The legacy of the Brilliant Pebbles program is not foreign to Lockheed Martin, whose formation in 1995 followed the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, one of the original contributors to the earlier program. Today, however, the company faces competition from SpaceX, which is able to produce and launch large numbers of satellites at significantly lower cost. Although SpaceX is considered a leading contender in this competition, it does not enjoy universal backing, including within the White House.

To maintain its position, Lockheed Martin is adopting a comprehensive approach. Company executives emphasized their role in the broader missile defense ecosystem, which includes lower-profile but essential programs such as ground-based radars, infrared missile detection satellites, and interceptor missiles launched from land, sea, and air. Systems such as THAAD, PAC-3, and the forthcoming Next-Generation Interceptors are seen as critical components that, when networked, could form a cohesive defense shield. To support this, Lockheed Martin is developing new command-and-control concepts to improve interoperability between these systems.

The company has also opened a new digital prototyping facility to virtually test space-based missile defense concepts, including those proposed by smaller companies and partners. This initiative is intended to accelerate technology development while ensuring compatibility across U.S. defense platforms. Lockheed Martin has made clear that the Golden Dome program is unlikely to be led by a single prime contractor. According to Amanda Pound, the scale of capability required by the U.S. government will likely necessitate multiple lead integrators and a broad range of subcontractors. She indicated the company is ready to work with various industry partners, viewing a multi-actor model as the most realistic way to achieve the program’s objectives.

Lockheed Martin is thus preparing to undertake a major technological effort: demonstrating, within three years, the viability of a space-based interceptor for hypersonic missile threats. A successor to decades of discontinued programs, the project is re-emerging at a time when the threat environment has materially changed. While the final architecture of the Golden Dome remains undefined, its realization will likely depend on an integrated, collaborative, and multi-domain approach, where advanced space technologies are one element among many.