Iron Dome for America

The Comprehensive Guide to Executing a Smart and Accelerated Strategy

On 27 Jan, an Executive Order was issued that identified an attack on by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks as the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.

It also set a vision for deploying and maintaining a next-generation missile defense shield to deter those threats (against citizens and critical infrastructure) and also to guarantee a secure second-strike capability. Specifically, it requires the SECDEF to execute the following activities:

1. Submit a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense shield. It also illuminated specific capabilities that need to be incorporated into the missile defense shield (to be discussed in more detail below).

2. Direct a review of theater missile defense posture to identify how the U.S. and its allies and partners can better cooperate on missile defense technology development, capabilities, and operations; improve defenses of forward-deployed troops and provide missile defense capabilities to allies and partners.

3. Review relevant authorities and organization of DoD to develop and deploy capabilities at the necessary speed to implement this directive.

4. Jointly with the Director of OMB (Russ Vought recently confirmed), submit a plan to fund this directive.

5. In cooperation with STRATCOM and NORTHCOM, submit an updated assessment of the strategic missile threat and a prioritized set of locations to progressively defend against a countervalue attack by nuclear adversaries.

Timelines

• Due Within 60 days or by 8 March.

  • Next-Generation Missile Defense Reference Architecture (NGMDRA)

  • Capability Requirements

  • Implementation Plan

  • Acceleration Authority Review

  • Budget Plan (for FY26 PB)

  • Strategic Missile Threat Assessment

  • Prioritization of Strategic Locations to Defend

• The Allied and Partner Theater Missile Defense Posture Review is due following the submission of the above items but has no due date.

Note: Given the due date of 8 March for the plan, we can likely assume that the FY26 budget will not go to the Hill before April (allowing for coordination and incorporating into the appropriate budget artifacts). Latest intel is likely late April.

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Request for Information

MDA issued an RFI to industry seeking concepts and capabilities to support the Iron Dome for America. It allows for a wide range of ideas that can be fielded across 4 two-year epochs.

• Epoch 1 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated NLT 31 Dec 2026

• Epoch 2 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated NLT 31 Dec 2028

• Epoch 3 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated NLT 31 Dec 2030

• Epoch 4 – Capabilities delivered or demonstrated beyond 31 Dec 2030

The requested deliverables for the RFI include a white paper and quad chart.

Requested White Paper Details

• Detailed description and definition of the proposed concept / capability

• Identification of class or specific threat to be engaged and defeated

• Schedule, to include milestones to demo or deliver in one of the time epochs.

• Integration methodology

• Potential or current partners to execute concept / capability

• Associated Risks to concept / capability execution

• Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for concept / capability

• Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost by FY to include buildup to minimal viable product (MVP) and incremental delivery to full capability (as applicable)

• Contract Vehicle (existing or new) / approach to enable accelerated delivery

• Industry capability and capacity to deliver capability and any constraints

Below is the quad format for submitting an RFI response prior to industry day.

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Acquisition Plan

We labeled this section an acquisition plan because the primary artifacts due within 60 days can be considered the core elements of a typical acquisition program.

• NGMDRA = Government Reference Architecture + CONOPS

• Capability Requirements = Validated Operational Requirements

• Implementation Plan = Integrated Master Schedule

• Acceleration Authority Review = Acquisition & Contracting Strategy

• Budget Plan = Cost Estimate and Funding Approach

• Strategic Missile Threat Assessment = Validated On-line Life-cycle Threat (VOLT) Report

• Prioritization of Strategic Locations to Defend = Prioritized Backlog

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Let’s Assess Some of These Elements That Could Comprise an Acquisition Plan, Identify Potential Strategies, Illuminate Congressional Intent, Highlight Some Concerns and Discuss Potential Recommendations