The U.S. Space Force has created a team of technical experts to aid the Trump administration's Iron Dome missile-defense initiative. This “integrated planning team” offers crucial expertise for developing a missile-shield architecture to protect the U.S. from missile threats, according to Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force’s chief of space operations.
“We are leaning forward establishing this technical IPT to start thinking about it from an overarching perspective,” Saltzman stated on February 24. President Donald Trump's January 27 executive order, “Iron Dome for America,” mandates that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth provide a comprehensive plan outlining the architecture, requirements, and implementation strategy for a missile defense system. Space-based sensors and space-based interceptors are key elements.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is spearheading meetings with the defense industry to evaluate existing technology. The Space Development Agency (SDA), a Space Force subsidiary, is acquiring numerous satellites for a widespread network of missile-tracking sensors in low Earth orbit, integral to the Iron Dome project. Saltzman noted the Space Force's vital role due to the system's heavy reliance on space assets: “I think we have a central role to play.”
Trump’s executive order emphasizes a multi-layered defense against advanced missile threats, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. The administration believes a robust missile shield would deter adversaries like Russia and China. However, the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a nationwide system comparable to Israel’s Iron Dome (designed for short-range threats) are debated. The Department of Defense’s upcoming analysis will determine which existing programs support Iron Dome requirements and identify any research and development needs.
A significant aspect is exploring the deployment of missile interceptors in orbit.