Pentagon Extends Deadline for Golden Dome Missile Defense Proposals
The Pentagon has decided to postpone the deadline for proposals related to the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. This decision comes in light of a significant spike in interest from American defense contractors, as reported on Tuesday.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) noted “substantial interest” from defense companies in the Trump administration’s ambitious $151 billion project. As of September 10, it had received over 1,500 inquiries from the industry, which reflects a strong demand. Todd Harrison from the American Enterprise Institute commented that this level of interest isn’t surprising, especially given the large funds being allocated by Congress.
The Golden Dome project is expected to have a price tag of at least $175 billion, with the goal of being built within just three years. Yet, the substantial adjustments needed from defense suppliers might introduce some hurdles, as the industry has a reputation for being a bit slow and complex.
Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office in May suggested that the project could potentially cost more than $83.1 billion over two decades. Major players in the defense sector, including L3 Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and even SpaceX, are being considered as potential contractors for this initiative.
The Golden Dome system is intended to integrate ocean, land, and space-based components for intercepting incoming missiles. It’s designed to counter emerging threats, particularly high-speed missiles, amid ongoing technological competition from China and Russia.
As of now, the Pentagon has not responded to inquiries from the Daily Caller News Foundation regarding this development.
