Pentagon's space boss explains how US plans to install missile interceptors into space

President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defence initiative aims to address missile threats as early and far from US territory as possible, with a strong emphasis on deploying space-based interceptors.

US Space Force Chief of Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman recently discussed the initiative during a virtual conference, explaining how this program represents a significant expansion of American missile defence architecture. The information he revealed on Washington's proactive response to the growing militarization of space was reported on by The War Zone publication.

A key focus of Golden Dome, initially known as Iron Dome when originated in January 2025 through an executive order signed by Trump, is the boost-phase interception of missiles. It is the initial stage of flight when ballistic missiles and hypersonic boost-glide vehicles—powered by rocket boosters similar to those used in ballistic missiles—travel at their slowest speed and are most susceptible to interception. During this phase, the intense plume of hot exhaust makes them more visible and easier to detect and track. However, the window for interception is brief, and any attempt would typically need to take place deep within enemy territory. These factors make boost-phase missile defence especially challenging when relying on air-, sea-, or ground-based systems.

Though the United States has considered and abandoned space-based missile defence systems in the past, largely due to high costs and technological hurdles, Saltzman expressed confidence in overcoming these barriers. He acknowledged the historical difficulties — such as those faced by the Reagan-era Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), often mocked as "Star Wars" — but emphasized the innovative capabilities of the US space industry. He believes these technical problems are now solvable with modern advancements and industry collaboration.

Saltzman also responded to concerns about the weaponization of space, a topic that has drawn increasing international attention. He argued that space is already being militarized by countries like China and Russia, which have developed substantial anti-satellite (ASAT) arsenals, including both ground-based and space-based weapons. Rather than initiating the militarization of space, Saltzman framed Golden Dome as a necessary step in maintaining strategic balance and deterrence.

Space Force leaders have consistently emphasized the evolving nature of space as a domain of military operations. General Saltzman, in particular, has been a vocal proponent of viewing space on par with traditional arenas of conflict like air, sea, and land. He has also been at the forefront of calls for the U.S. military to invest in new “counter-space” technologies, which may encompass both space-based weapon systems and those operating from within Earth’s atmosphere.

“What I think we’re really recognizing is now space is a contested war-fighting domain, and that’s what’s new, not that the military is considering offensive and defensive operations,” Saltzman said today. “Militaries always conduct offensive and defensive operations to contest the domains to meet military objectives. We just recently had to up our game, if you will, because space has become a warfighting domain.”

“I talk about six categories of counter-space weapons. [There are] three that are ground-based, jammers, directed energy, and then kinetic capabilities, like we’ve seen the PRC use with missiles attacking satellites. And then those same three categories can be done from space, from satellites on orbit, jamming, and directed energy, and kinetic capabilities,” he continued.

By Nazrin Sadigova