As the United States continues its unilateral militarization of space, budgets for projects such as the “Golden Dome” keep surging. Several reports indicate that it will increase by $10 billion, reaching $185 billion. Reuters reports that the Pentagon plans to “accelerate key space-based ‌capabilities” and that this requires additional funding. Lockheed Martin, RTX (formerly Raytheon) and Northrop Grumman have also joined as “prime contractors”. In addition to expanding “ground‑based defenses such as interceptor missiles, sensors and command‑and‑control systems while adding space‑based elements meant to detect, track and potentially counter incoming threats from orbit”, the US military wants “advanced satellite networks and still‑debated weaponry in orbit”.

The project manager, Space Force General Michael Guetlein, stated that “three programs would benefit from the additional funding”. This includes the Advanced Missile Tracking Initiative (AMTI), a space data network and HBTSS (Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor). HBTSS is described as “a space-based sensor system designed to detect and track hypersonic and ballistic missile threats”. It’s seen as a priority, as the US still struggles to catch up with even Iran and North Korea in hypersonic weapons (much less China and Russia). The new budget covers what General Guetlein called the “objective architecture, a full-capability system to be delivered over the next decade”. He also insisted that the “Golden Dome’s” potential cost won’t go beyond $1 trillion, rejecting such concerns as “unfounded”.

General Guetlein stated that space-based interceptors ⁠are “the program’s highest-risk element”, citing scalability and affordability as the central challenge. He added that........

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