: The system is designed to be a "system of systems," incorporating ground-based interceptors, ship-borne defenses, and space-based interceptors [18, 19].
In nature, a geologic dome is a curved formation created when magma pushes up surface rock layers without breaking through [10]. : The system is designed to be a
: President Trump has stated the goal for the system to be "fully operational" within his term, with an estimated initial cost of $175 billion [2, 25]. However, critics and analysts estimate the long-term cost could reach $844 billion to $1.1 trillion [16]. However, critics and analysts estimate the long-term cost
: Domes have been constructed from varied materials throughout history, including mud, snow (igloos), stone, brick, concrete, glass, and plastic [13]. Traditional masonry domes require heavy supporting walls or
: It is a hollow half of a sphere [10]. Traditional masonry domes require heavy supporting walls or pendentives—inverted triangular masonry—to transition from a square base to a circular dome [12, 13].
Initiated in January 2025 by the second Trump administration, the Golden Dome for America (originally called the "Iron Dome for America") is an integrated air and missile defense system [6].
: In April 2026, the U.S. Space Force awarded contracts to 12 companies —including SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman—to begin work on space-based interceptors [18, 20]. 3. Geology