Pentagon’s ‘golden Dome’ Program head Claims Broad Authority, Faced Immediate Cyberattacks
A Standard Missile 3 Block IIA launches from the Aegis Ashore Missile defense Test Complex at the Pacific Missile Range facility in Kauai, Hawaii, on December 10, 2018, during a test to intercept an intermediate-range ballistic missile target in space.(Credit: Mark Wright/DOD)
The head of the Pentagon’s “Golden Dome” program, a classified initiative focused on defending against advanced hypersonic weapons, says he has been granted “unprecedented authorities” over all aspects of the project. Brad Guetlein, appointed to lead the program in July 2023, revealed the extent of his control over technical progress, procurement, contracting, hiring, security, and budget during a recent defense industry conference.
President Trump initially directed the military to establish the Golden Dome program through an executive order in January 2023 and subsequently nominated Guetlein to lead it.The Senate confirmed his appointment via voice vote in July 2023. Following an initial period of public announcements, including appearances with President Trump, the Pentagon largely remained silent about the program, citing security concerns.
Guetlein explained that the silence was a direct response to immediate cyberattacks following his confirmation.”I was confirmed on the 18th of July. On the 19th of July,I popped No.1 on the intel collect list for our adversaries,” he stated. “On the 20th of July, they started hacking our defense industrial base, and the Secretary [of defense] asked us to go silent. So, we have been quiet. I have not been talking to industry consortiums. I have not been talking to the press. I have not been talking to the think tanks. And it wasn’t until september that I was allowed to even start talking to the Hill [Congress].”
The Golden Dome program aims to develop and deploy a layered defense system against hypersonic weapons, which travel at five times the speed of sound or faster and are difficult to track and intercept.Details of the program remain largely classified, but it is indeed understood to involve a combination of space-based sensors, advanced radar systems, and interceptor missiles.
Sources:
* Ars Technica: Pentagon’s hypersonic defense chief says “I can move money around at will”
* Breaking Defense: Guetlein details ‘Golden Dome’ program’s rapid progress
* Defense News: Pentagon’s hypersonic defense chief details program’s rapid progress