For most of its history, the United States has been largely insulated from foreign threats. Vast oceans made it an impractical destination for invading armies before the advent of modern aviation and ballistics. And even now, its size and relative distance from adversaries are logistical deterrents.<\/p>\n
But threats are evolving fast.<\/p>\n
Next-generation missiles and long-range drones can bypass geographic barriers that once seemed impenetrable. North Korea, for example, has already developed intercontinental ballistic missiles with enough range to reach the continental United States, according to the Defense Intelligence Agency<\/a>. China and Russia have the same capabilities, with nearly 900<\/a> intercontinental ballistic missiles between them. And then there are new hypersonic weapons that can travel faster than the speed of sound.<\/p>\n In the face of these threats, the United States needs new infrastructure. President Donald Trump issued an executive order<\/a> in 2025 calling for the development of a comprehensive missile defense system in the mold of Israel\u2019s Iron Dome. Dubbed the \u201cGolden Dome for America,\u201d the space-enabled system will use advanced satellites and sensors to deter, detect and destroy incoming hypersonic and ballistic missiles aimed at the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cGolden Dome is the decisive response to a new era of threats,\u201d Gen. Mike Guetlein, director of Golden Dome for America, said at an April event. \u201cWe are moving with purpose and urgency to forge a shield that is layered, integrated and automated.\u201d<\/p>\n But at least one roadblock threatens to restrain the program: America\u2019s outdated industrial base.<\/p>\n \u201cWith\u00a0reductions and consolidation in the defense supply chain, a lot of the really critical capabilities that our nation once had are no longer there,\u201d said Matt Maga\u00f1a, president of space, defense, and national security at Voyager Technologies.\u00a0 \u201cIf we want to develop something like the Golden Dome, we have to address all the problems in our supply chain that have arisen over time, and we have to do it on a timetable that is extremely fast. We have to rebuild our industrial base and put it back to where it needs to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Infrastructure vs. Innovation<\/p>\n Golden Dome isn\u2019t a single solution. Rather, it\u2019s a system of systems that includes \u201cconstellations of satellite-based tracking and discrimination platforms to detect missile launches in real time; kinetic interceptors based in space, at sea and on land; directed energy systems, such as high-powered lasers, for boost-phase intercepts; [and] artificial intelligence integration for faster sensor-to-shooter linkages,\u201d the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation reported in a 2025 Golden Dome fact sheet.<\/a><\/p>\n The United States already knows how to build everything the Golden Dome requires. But its manufacturing capabilities have eroded through decades of consolidation and offshoring, and it no longer has the capacity, Maga\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n The nation\u2019s strained defense industrial base isn\u2019t missing innovation. Instead, it lacks infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of what we have to figure out is not technology. What the nation is missing is scale, speed and affordability,\u201d Maga\u00f1a said. He cited gaps in America\u2019s ability to produce mission-critical products such as solid rocket motors, electronics components and propulsion chemicals. \u201cThe reality is, we need to be able to manufacture the things we need, when we need them and in the quantities that we require. And right now, that\u2019s difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Opportunities to revamp and replenish the industrial base are especially pronounced in the space sector. Maga\u00f1a said that\u2019s especially important because of the vital role of space-based assets in the Golden Dome architecture \u2014 including autonomous and adaptive AI-powered satellites that are capable of precise maneuverability, low-signature detection and secure on-orbit data processing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe game now is proliferation and getting the right mix of assets in space to go do the mission,\u201d Maga\u00f1a said. He pointed to the shift from a small number of large satellites to a large number of small satellites. \u201cThat requires increasing production volumes and investing in the industrial base so it can grow with the mission and offer more affordable space solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n The Promise of \u2018Neo-Prime\u2019 Partnerships<\/p>\n Policymakers and government leaders can take a series of steps to support a resilient and sovereign supply chain. That includes:<\/p>\n cultivating long-term contracts,<\/p>\n embracing multi-year funding approaches and<\/p>\n establishing predictable procurement cycles that give suppliers the confidence they need to invest in new facilities, workforce pipelines and production automation.<\/p>\n But government alone cannot rebuild the defense industrial base, Maga\u00f1a said. What\u2019s needed, he added, is an ecosystem in which traditional primes, commercial space companies, tech startups and universities are willing participants in partnerships based on mutual benefit.<\/p>\n