Pentagon Says US Has No Defence Against Hypersonic Missiles Amid Trump's 'Golden Dome' Push

Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 07:47 IST

The US has said it currently lacks defences against hypersonic and advanced cruise missiles, as it pushes ahead with the costly “Golden Dome” missile shield.

The United States currently has “no defence against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles", a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

The remarks come as the Donald Trump administration presses ahead with its ambitious “Golden Dome" missile defence programme, a project aimed at countering evolving threats from rivals such as China and Russia.

Marc Berkowitz, the assistant secretary of defence for missile defence and deterrence policy, made the admission during a Senate hearing, underscoring the urgency behind the proposed shield.

“We have no defence against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles today, [or] advanced cruise missiles," he said, when questioned on the programme’s necessity.

Berkowitz argued that the Golden Dome initiative is designed to “strengthen deterrence by denying adversaries the ability to achieve their objectives through coercion or aggression".

GOLDEN DOME: COSTS, CAPABILITIES AND CONCERNS

The Golden Dome system, initially estimated at US$175 billion through 2035, has already seen its projected cost rise by US$10 billion, according to the report.

The Trump administration aims to deploy a space-based missile interceptor network before the end of the President’s current term in January 2029.

Budget documents indicate that the Pentagon plans to request US$17.9 billion for the programme in fiscal year 2027, with the majority expected to come through a budget reconciliation mechanism rather than standard appropriations.

The department has also outlined a broader restructuring of defence spending, including a US$750 billion “presidential priorities" category that covers Golden Dome, artificial intelligence, drone capabilities and industrial base expansion.

However, the initiative has drawn criticism both domestically and internationally.

Beijing has warned that the system could escalate tensions, cautioning it may “turn outer space into a battlefield" and accusing Washington of being “obsessed with pursuing absolute security".

At home, lawmakers have raised procedural concerns over the administration’s reliance on reconciliation to pass large portions of defence spending.

Independent Senator Angus King was quoted as saying that he was “very disturbed by the precedent that this has created".

CHINA AND RUSSIA CITED AS KEY THREATS

US defence officials have repeatedly pointed to the rapid expansion of Chinese and Russian missile arsenals as a central justification for the programme.

Berkowitz described China as “our pacing competitor", adding that Washington aims to deter Beijing “from a position of strength with a denial defence along the first island chain".

While precise figures remain classified, Missile Defence Agency director Heath Collins indicated that China’s arsenal ranges “from several hundred to several tens of thousands", depending on the type of system.

The Pentagon is also investing in next-generation sensing networks and interceptor technologies, with contracts worth up to US$3.2 billion already awarded to multiple suppliers, including major defence contractors.

REPORT FLAGS RECORD DEFENCE BUDGET EXPANSION

Separately, Reuters reported on April 21 that the Pentagon has unveiled further details of Trump’s US$1.5 trillion defence budget request for fiscal year 2027, marking “by far the largest year-over-year increase in defence spending in the post-World War Two era."

According to the report, the budget introduces a new “presidential priorities" category that includes Golden Dome missile defence, drone warfare, artificial intelligence and data infrastructure.

The report highlighted major procurement plans, including over US$65 billion for shipbuilding under a “Golden Fleet" initiative, expanded acquisition of F-35 fighter jets, and billions allocated for next-generation platforms such as the B-21 bomber and the F-47 fighter programme.

Significantly, the budget also includes what officials described as the largest investment in drone warfare and counter-drone systems in US history, with tens of billions earmarked for autonomous platforms and advanced munitions.

Reuters further noted that the proposal splits funding into US$1.15 trillion in discretionary spending and a US$350 billion supplemental request, the latter expected to pass through reconciliation, echoing concerns raised by lawmakers over legislative precedent.

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