1/8/2025–|Last update: 20:29 (Mecca time)
The US Department of Defense has set the date of the first major test of the new space missile defense system “Golden Dom” (the golden dome) in the last quarter of 2028, according to CNN reported on two informed sources.
According to one of the defensive officials, the timing of the test reflects a desire to “achieve an achievement that can be referred to during the US presidential elections,” adding that the Ministry of Defense seeks to avoid any obstacles that may delay the project.
This test will be known as the FTI-X, which is an abbreviation of “Integrated Aviation Test”, and will include the operation of sensors and weapons together to intercept multiple targets.
The missile defense agency undertakes the test, but it was not commented on the CNN report.
This time is in line with President Donald Trump’s promise last May to “accomplish it within 3 years.” Trump had announced at the time that the new system would be able to “intercept the missiles even if it was launched from the far part of the world.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckernh6jerc
Technical challenges
Although the project is very ambitious, Defense officials see it faces major technical challenges, especially in the number of satellites required to cover the American field.
General Michael Getlin, who was appointed by Trump last May to lead the project within the space forces, has recently indicated the difficulty of building the space objector in terms of cost and production on a large scale, despite the availability of the necessary technology.
The 2028 test is expected to be the “first stage” of the project, which is currently dependent on existing systems to prove its feasibility, according to another source.
The amount of $ 25 billion from the defense spending package was allocated to the project financing, but other estimates indicate that the final cost may reach hundreds of billions of dollars.
Companies such as Northob Grumman and Lucheid Martin are actually testing techniques that enter into the project components, as satellite missiles and long -range radars.
On the other hand, concerns about the lack of supervision of the project are escalating, especially after the cancellation of the office of the operational testing and evaluation manager, which was supposed to supervise the system tests.
General Getlin has also been granted exceptional powers in granting contracts and purchasing technology, with his only direct official being Stephen Venberg, Deputy Minister of Defense.
An internal memorandum states that the golden dome will be exempt from traditional measures to oversee weapons programs, given its technical complexity, at a time when dozens of major companies such as SpaceX, Andrell Palatire are racing to win a role in developing the system.
