The world is witnessing a major technological arms race in missile defence, with countries seeking cutting-edge solutions to protect their skies from evolving threats. One of the most ambitious efforts in this regard is the United States’ development of the ‘Golden Dome,’ an advanced missile defence system designed to safeguard the nation against a wide range of missile threats, including hypersonic missiles.
What is the Golden Dome?
The Golden Dome is a state-of-the-art missile defence system announced by US President Donald Trump during his congressional address. Drawing inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome, which successfully defends against short-range rocket threats, the Golden Dome is aimed at providing comprehensive, nationwide protection against advanced ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. It will utilize a mix of space-based sensors, interceptors, and advanced communication networks to detect and neutralize threats at an early stage.
In his address, Trump underlined the need to “build the most powerful military of the future,” and stated that the Golden Dome would be “all made in the USA.” The system’s unique combination of space-based interceptors and ground/naval defences will form a multi-layered shield, ready to tackle a broad spectrum of missile threats.
The Golden Dome will include sophisticated capabilities to detect incoming missiles, calculate their trajectories, and deploy interceptor missiles to destroy them mid-flight. With the collaboration of industry giants like Lockheed Martin, it will use combat-proven technologies while integrating the latest innovations, ensuring that the US remains ahead of adversary missile technologies.
Golden Dome vs. Iron Dome: A Comparison
While the Golden Dome shares similarities with Israel’s Iron Dome, the two systems serve very different purposes. The Iron Dome, which protects specific regions within Israel, is focused on intercepting short-range threats like rockets and artillery shells. On the other hand, the Golden Dome is a nationwide defence system designed to protect the entire United States from advanced missile threats, including those from space and hypersonic technologies.
Technologically, the Golden Dome will integrate space-based sensors to track threats from great distances, making it a much broader and more sophisticated defence mechanism than the Iron Dome, which is limited in scope. While the Iron Dome uses ground-based radar and interceptors, the Golden Dome aims for a broader, layered defence network across the entirety of US airspace.
India’s Homegrown Defence Solution: Raksha Kavach
India, not far behind in the race to enhance its missile defence capabilities, has developed its own advanced defence shield, known as “Raksha Kavach.” Built by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), this multi-layered protection system is designed to protect critical military assets, including soldiers, armoured vehicles, and defence complexes, against a variety of threats, much like Israel’s Iron Dome. This multi-layer protection was displayed at Aero India 2025.
Raksha Kavach’s cutting-edge technology offers several layers of defence: ballistic, blast, and electronic protection. The system employs lightweight, durable nano-technology-based composite materials, ensuring high effectiveness and resilience. The system can be integrated into a wide range of applications, from personal soldier armour to vehicle protection, providing instant threat neutralization capabilities.
One of Raksha Kavach’s key features is its ability to react immediately to incoming threats, utilizing advanced satellite-based surveillance systems, reconnaissance UAVs, and a range of air-defence technologies. The system includes features such as an air-to-air missile system, drone detection and interception systems, electronic warfare mechanisms, and a laser-based energy weapon. This integration of various technologies provides an unparalleled defence shield capable of neutralizing any airborne threats, even in the air itself, before they can reach their targets.
This state-of-the-art system of Raksha Kavach will further strengthen India’s defence capabilities, which will effectively prevent enemy attacks.
Along with the satellite-based surveillance system, there will be reconnaissance UAV’s, airborne warning and control system, air-to-air missile, advanced towed artillery gun system, drone detection, interception and destruction system, medium power radar Arudhra, light weight torpedo, Dharmashakti with electronic warfare system, laser-based energy weapon and short-range air defence system, indigenous secure satellite phone and assault rifle.
The Future of Defence
As the US and India both forge ahead with their respective missile defence systems, the global arms race for defence innovation becomes clearer. The development of the Golden Dome and Raksha Kavach reveals the growing importance of advanced technology in ensuring national security. These systems state the increasing reliance on multi-layered defence strategies that combine satellite surveillance, AI-driven interceptors, and cutting-edge communication networks.