SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
The Pentagon is planning a phased buildout of the Golden Dome missile-defense architecture through 2035, signaling a long-term implementation effort rather than a single procurement event. The timeline points to sustained requirements for funding, technology development, industrial capacity and integration across the defense enterprise.
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons
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The Pentagon is planning a phased buildout of the Golden Dome missile-defense architecture through 2035, signaling a long-term implementation effort rather than a single procurement event. The timeline points to sustained requirements for funding, technology development, industrial capacity and integration across the defense enterprise.
Ballistic missiles and drones struck near Riyadh’s international airport, setting storage tanks alight and sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky. The incident followed Saudi Arabia’s first overnight air-raid alert since fighting in neighboring Yemen intensified this month, prompting emergency firefighting response.
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A missile reportedly struck a fuel storage tank at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, generating a large plume of black smoke over the Saudi capital. The projectile is believed to have been fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen as hostilities between the sides intensify.
A Center for Strategic and International Studies report recommends that the U.S. Navy develop an offensive approach against Chinese aircraft carriers, mirroring Beijing’s planned use of submarines, ballistic missiles and other advanced systems to threaten American carrier strike groups.
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The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin are moving to accelerate production and testing of the classified AIM-260 air-to-air missile, intended to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM and strengthen U.S. and allied air-combat capabilities. Separately, Lockheed is pitching new-build F-16s as the Air Force considers how to expand its aging fighter fleet, while Patriot interceptor production receives new component support.
Ukraine says it has successfully tested a domestically developed interceptor designed to counter jet-powered Shahed attack drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the system remains under development, with additional technical work required as testing continues.
L3Harris Technologies is moving its Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor satellites into production for the Missile Defense Agency’s Golden Dome initiative, with few design changes from the existing HBTSS design. The decision signals a transition from satellite development toward scaled production for missile-warning and tracking missions.
Lockheed Martin’s FLEX concept would give the AGM-158 JASSM family a common modular architecture supporting longer-range variants, anti-ship missions and additional launch configurations. The proposal is intended to broaden the missile’s operational flexibility while building on the existing JASSM family design.
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