The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has extended the proposal deadline for a major homeland defense contract valued at up to $151 billion. The extension comes after the agency received more than 1,500 questions from potential industry partners, signaling significant interest in the ambitious program designed to create a multi-layered defense system against advanced missile threats.
Key Takeaways
- The Missile Defense Agency extended the proposal deadline for its SHIELD program from October 10 to October 16.
- The 10-year contract, valued at up to $151 billion, is part of the larger 'Golden Dome' missile defense initiative.
- The extension was granted due to substantial industry interest, with over 1,500 questions submitted by companies.
- The Golden Dome program aims to integrate ground and space-based sensors and interceptors into a unified network.
- Long-term cost estimates for the complete defense architecture range from $252 billion to over $3 trillion.
SHIELD Program Attracts Widespread Industry Attention
The MDA announced the one-week extension for its Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) solicitation in a memo released on October 2. The original deadline for industry proposals was October 10, but it has now been moved to October 16. Agency officials cited the need to address the high volume of inquiries as the reason for the change.
The SHIELD program is structured as a 10-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. This framework will allow the Pentagon to establish a group of pre-qualified companies. These companies will then be eligible to compete for specific task orders related to prototyping, experimentation, and testing of new missile defense technologies.
Contract at a Glance
- Program Name: SHIELD (Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense)
- Value: Up to $151 billion
- Duration: 10 years
- Contract Type: Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ)
- Purpose: Develop and integrate homeland missile defense capabilities.
The Broader 'Golden Dome' Vision
The SHIELD solicitation is a critical component of a much larger national security project known as 'Golden Dome'. This initiative, a priority for President Donald Trump's administration, aims to build a comprehensive, layered network of sensors and interceptors. The goal is to protect the United States from advanced missile attacks, including hypersonic weapons.
The White House has directed Pentagon officials to develop a 'reference architecture' for this network. This plan involves accelerating existing programs, such as the satellite constellations being developed by the MDA and the Space Development Agency, while also investing in new technologies. A key focus of this new investment is on developing space-based interceptors.
Parallel Efforts in Space
Shortly after the MDA issued its SHIELD solicitation on September 10, the U.S. Space Force announced its own related effort. On September 18, the Space Force began seeking prototype proposals for space-based interceptor technology. According to the notice, the service plans to issue multiple awards through various contracting methods to advance the concept.
Project Leadership and Technological Challenges
The Golden Dome initiative is being led by General Michael Guetlein, who previously served as the Space Force's Vice Chief of Staff. Gen. Guetlein and his team recently briefed lawmakers on the initial plan in a closed-door meeting on September 30, though the details of that plan have not been made public.
Speaking at a conference in late July, Gen. Guetlein addressed concerns about the feasibility of the project's more ambitious elements. He stated that much of the required technology, including space-based interceptors, has already been proven technologically feasible.
"We have to deliver on that vision of integrated command and control across the nation, across all these multiple platforms," Gen. Guetlein said, highlighting the complexity of the task ahead.
According to Guetlein, the primary remaining challenges are not related to physics but to manufacturing and integration. He emphasized the need to produce interceptors affordably and in vast quantities, potentially requiring tens of thousands of units. Another significant hurdle will be integrating a wide array of systems from different military branches—including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps—into a single, cohesive network with unified command and control.
Cost Projections and Funding
The financial scope of the Golden Dome initiative is substantial. President Trump has publicly stated that the program will cost $175 billion to develop over the next three years. A significant portion of this is already secured, as the Pentagon has $25 billion available from congressional budget reconciliation legislation passed earlier this year.
However, independent analysis suggests the total long-term cost could be far greater. A September 12 report from the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based think tank, presented a wide range of potential costs. The report estimated that the 20-year cost for the complete architecture could fall anywhere between $252 billion and $3.6 trillion, depending on the final design and scale of the system.
The extension of the SHIELD proposal deadline is the first public step in a multi-decade effort to reshape the nation's defense posture against emerging missile threats. The high level of industry engagement indicates that defense contractors are preparing for a long-term, resource-intensive project that could define military technology for years to come.