Layered Defense in the Skies: How LEO, MEO, and GEO Satellites Could Power Trump’s Golden Dome

The "Golden Dome" initiative, currently championed by President Trump, draws parallels to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), commonly known as "Star Wars," from the Reagan administration. There are differences however, while both share the overarching goal of national missile defense, SDI was a visionary, largely theoretical concept for its time, pushing the boundaries of unproven technology against a specific Cold War threat (The Soviet Union). Golden Dome is a more contemporary proposal, aiming to adapt existing and emerging technologies to address a more diverse and advanced set of missile threats.

With that being said, what is already in the works as far as space-based missile defense, tracking and identification?

OPIR (GEO, Polar): The Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) program is a critical component of the U.S. Space Force's missile warning and tracking architecture. Its primary mission is to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missile launches by sensing their infrared heat signatures from space. The Next-Generation OPIR (Next-Gen OPIR) system is being developed to replace the current Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), offering enhanced capabilities against advanced threats. As the program currently stands, the Air Force will procure two GEO (Phase 1), three GEO (Phase 2, 2028 launch) and two Polar satellites. Northrop Grumman (Polar) and Lockheed Martin (GEO) are producing the spacecraft.

Tracking layer (LEO): The Tracking Layer is an integral part of the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), designed to provide global, persistent missile warning and tracking. It consists of a large constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO), each equipped with infrared sensors to detect and track the heat signatures of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonics. The Tracking Layer is being developed in "tranches", with new capabilities and increased satellite numbers added in each iteration to enhance coverage and resilience. It integrates closely with the Transport Layer of the PWSA, which handles data relay and connectivity to ground systems and warfighters. The tranches will be launched about every two years, with tranche 0 already launched. Various manufacturers have been chosen for these satellites including L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Sierra Space.

Tracking Layer (MEO): The Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) portion of the Tracking Layer provides a vital complement to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, enhancing overall missile warning and tracking capabilities. Satellites in MEO, offer advantages over LEO by requiring fewer satellites for global coverage, providing longer pass times, and experiencing less atmospheric drag, while surpassing GEO with significantly lower latency and better coverage at higher latitudes. This enables a wider field of view and longer dwell times over a given target area compared to LEO. This allows MEO satellites to maintain custody of missile tracks for extended periods with fewer satellites than a purely LEO constellation. The Space Force's Resilient Missile Warning and Missile Tracking – MEO (MEO MW/MT) program is specifically developing this MEO constellation to track advanced threats like hypersonic glide vehicles. The MEO portion is being developed in "Epochs," with the first satellites for Epoch 1 projected to launch in 2026/27.

Transport Layer (LEO): The Transport Layer, a significant piece of the Space Development Agency's PWSA, is designed to provide assured, resilient, and low-latency military data and communications globally. It acts as the backbone for the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) infrastructure, facilitating connectivity and tactical satellite communication. This layer is a proliferated constellation of hundreds of small satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), interconnected by high-speed optical inter-satellite links (OISLs). These OISLs enable the creation of a mesh network capable of routing data from any connected source to any destination. The Transport Layer is deployed in tranches much like the tracking layer, with each iteration adding more satellites and enhanced capabilities, ensuring constant worldwide coverage and increased resilience. Tranche 0 has already launched.

These programs have been in the works for some time and will likely be a part of the Golden Dome program.

Funding Outlook

Long before the Golden Dome initiative was introduced by the current administration, the Pentagon had already committed to major investments in next-generation missile tracking and defense technologies. The FY25 budget request included approximately $25 billion over the next five years for the development of missile tracking satellite programs such as OPIR and the LEO/MEO tracking layers, excluding launch costs and support infrastructure.

President Trump has stated that the full Golden Dome missile defense shield will cost approximately $175 billion and aims to make it operational by the end of his term. The first $25 billion is included in a reconciliation bill currently being shaped by Republican lawmakers. This leaves a requirement for another $150 billion to complete the program. It's currently unclear how much of that funding is already allocated to existing missile defense efforts versus added through future defense budget requests or appropriations bills. The administration may ultimately seek tens of billions of dollars in additional funding for the program over the next few years.

Notably, Trump’s estimate does not account for potential long-term costs associated with the broader missile defense architecture. For example, a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the cost of deploying a fleet of space-based interceptors - a key component of the original Golden Dome plans - could cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over 20 years. While the Golden Dome initiative outlines an ambitious plan, the staggering price tag raises pressing questions about where the remaining funding will come from, and whether it can be secured in time to meet the program’s aggressive timeline.