'Golden Dome' Replaces 'Iron Dome' in Pentagon Missile Program
The Pentagon has quietly rebranded its national missile defense initiative from "Iron Dome for America" to "Golden Dome for America," according to a recent advisory issued to defense contractors, SpaceNews reported.
The name change surfaced publicly when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a recent video discussing programs shielded from potential budget reductions, referred to the system as "Golden Dome or Iron Dome."
His statement, initially perceived as a slip of the tongue, was later confirmed as an official revision.
"Please note the Department of Defense has renamed this program from 'Iron Dome for America' to 'Golden Dome for America,'" the U.S. Missile Defense Agency stated in a Feb. 24 advisory to contractors submitting proposals.
The notice, issued days before the Feb. 28 submission deadline, clarified that existing file systems would retain the original name for logistical reasons.