The US Golden Dome missile defense system will cost about $1.2 trillion over 20 years, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. The figure covers the development, deployment and continued operation of the system.
The orbital network is expected to become the largest and most expensive part of the project. It will consist of 7,800 satellites in low Earth orbit. Building, launching and maintaining the constellation over two decades is projected to cost around $720 billion.
The space-based component will form one of four interception layers. Two more layers are planned for ground deployment, while the fourth will provide regional-level defense. The architecture will also rely on additional detection assets, communications infrastructure and battle management systems.
Under the proposed configuration, Golden Dome is designed to intercept up to 10 intercontinental ballistic missiles launched at the same time. The figures are outlined in materials prepared for Senate hearings by David Mosher, director of national security analysis at the Congressional Budget Office.
Donald Trump announced the selected architecture for Golden Dome in May 2025. The US president said the missile defense system would combine ground-, sea- and space-based assets. US authorities plan to bring the system into operation before the end of Trump’s second presidential term.