On Dec. 6, Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein announced that, sometime in 2028, the U.S. Space Force intends to deliver a Golden Dome "operational capability" to defend America against advanced enemy air and space threats.

Guetlein manages the complex "Golden Dome for America" program. The name Golden Dome derives from Israel's successful Iron Dome air and space (air-space in the jargon) defense system, which has played a major role in successfully defeating short- and long-range air-space attacks on Israel by Iran and Iranian proxies.

I think Guetlein speaking on the day before Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7) was a coincidence. But it's an auspicious coincidence. On Dec. 7, 1941, an advanced enemy air threat of the era (Japanese aircraft carrier planes) conducted a surprise attack that savaged the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet.

So preventing a Pearl Harbor circa 2031 rates as a very good idea. In January 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that included this hard truth about 21st-century air and space weapons and our enemies who possess them: "Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery systems and their own homeland integrated air and missile defense capabilities."

The delivery systems Trump referenced include offensive hypersonic missiles, ICBMs, cruise missiles, manned aircraft and drones (long-range, but short-range can have strategic effects). These weapons can carry conventional explosives, nuclear weapons or chemical and biological weapons.

Iron Dome specifically refers to a sophisticated tactical (short-range) anti-missile and anti-artillery projectile defense system. Iron Dome's "sensor-shooter" system is a drastically scaled-down strategic anti-missile defense system, a mini-antiballistic missile (ABM) system in the mold of the Reagan administration's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

In fact, Iron Dome is an SDI descendant. The Israelis add David's Sling long-range interceptor ABMs. The result is a "layered" air-space defense system. Iron Dome's combat success demonstrates the concept works.

Golden Dome is SDI writ humongous. In 1987, it was theory. Today, the Pentagon has the technology to field it. Guetlein says Golden Dome's "ultimate scope" is continental. "We are focused on the entire homeland, to include Hawaii, Alaska and Guam," he said. "We're looking at all of the homeland, not just a subset."

That sounds super continental. "More" includes Guam (a special case). Protect Alaska means covering Canada. Protecting Maine from 21st-century threats means Golden Dome protects Greenland. Protecting Texas, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico means the Golden Dome would defend Mexico.

The whole of North America plus U.S. Pacific states and territories. Protecting the Aleutians takes you to Siberia ...

Very humongous.

Guetlein acknowledged huge requires a step-by-step plan. Deploy mini-Domes. Many mini-Golden Domes.

Bad pun but accurate. Space Force will deploy "patches" of "mini domes." Eventually, the patches will expand, interlace and then connect to protect all U.S. territory. Lily pads ultimately covering a pond?

In some respects, a limited mini-Golden Dome already protects Guam. The Army has a medium-range ABM battery on Guam. Navy-guided missile destroyers with longer-range ABM systems protect Guam. Just add lasers.

Perhaps that's getting ahead of the Space Force Golden Dome plan, but it isn't fantasy. The Army and Navy are developing short-range lasers to destroy "cheap" drone threats. Air-space defense lasers (powered by micro-nuclear reactors) will ultimately serve as the "low tier" of a multi-layered defense against all air and space threats, from ICBMs to artillery projectiles.

Defending American citizens on U.S. territory is the Golden Dome defense system's first priority. However, the ability to protect allies and neutrals by providing or sharing air-space defense capabilities creates diplomatic power. The system's very existence serves as a psychological counter to thug intimidation and creates political space for other diplomatic endeavors to counter the threats posed by rogue states (Iran) and global imperialists (China).

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