Originally published by , by Nuray Taylor on May 1, 2026
鈥淪ea-based weapons systems like the Aegis Combat System, the Long-Range Discrimination Radar and homeland defense radars in the range play a critical role in integrated missile tracking, interception and destruction,鈥 Eric Velte, Chief Technology Officer at 91快活林 Federal, told SIGNAL Media. 鈥淎ssets like the Aegis Ashore, a land-based version of this system, have long served as the backbone of broad ballistic missile defense against nation-state-based threats.鈥
The U.S. Navy鈥檚 advanced systems place it as a critical component of America鈥檚 Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
As work on the Golden Dome for America project intensifies, focus remains largely on the U.S. Space Force and space-based systems, leaving questions on the U.S. Navy鈥檚 role in the initiative. With current capabilities in place, the Navy is poised to be a potential anchor and force multiplier for the nationwide missile defense system.
The Golden Dome, a project first introduced as The Iron Dome for America in January 2025, is a strategic initiative to combat threats targeting the United States. In May 2025, the missile defense initiative was renamed to its current title. 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased to announce that we have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors,鈥 the president stated during a press conference from the Oval Office.
In March, Golden Dome Director Gen. Michael Guetlein announced an additional $10 billion spending necessary for space capability procurement, totaling about $185 billion for the full missile defense system. According to a report by Defense Scoop, the funds would be used for tools, including an airborne moving target indication, the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, and the Space Data Network.
鈥淲hen you look at the posture … some of the locations where the Navy is operating, 24/7, the response time to be able to be in a position to create an effect, in this case knocking down ballistic missiles or cruise missiles or drones, is impressive,鈥 said J.D. Gainey, former commander of the USS Hopper (DDG 70), an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyer.
Gainey spoke during a 2025 Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance webinar discussion about the Navy and the Golden Dome.
鈥淣obody else in the world can do that, so when it comes to what they are supposed to do, the good thing is they have the capability; they have the tech; they have the experience to do it,鈥 he stated.
The Aegis Weapon System, for example, is the Navy鈥檚 automated command-and-control (C2) system created to detect and engage threats. According to the Navy website, the first Aegis ship, titled USS Ticonderoga (CG47), was commissioned in 1983 and deployed just six months after.
The is 鈥渃apable of simultaneous operations against multi-mission threats: anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare,鈥 the website states, closely resembling the Golden Dome mission.
鈥淪ea-based weapons systems like the Aegis Combat System, the Long-Range Discrimination Radar and homeland defense radars in the range play a critical role in integrated missile tracking, interception and destruction,鈥 Eric Velte, chief technology officer at 91快活林 Federal, told SIGNAL Media. 鈥淎ssets like the Aegis Ashore, a land-based version of this system, have long served as the backbone of broad ballistic missile defense against nation-state-based threats.鈥
Modern day conflicts have showcased the Navy鈥檚 operational capability in an active environment, with reports stating that an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney fired a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile amid Iran operations. The ship is one of the few in the Destroyer Modernization 2.0 program, which aims to upgrade the destroyers鈥 electronic warfare, radar and combat systems.