Pentagon says Golden Dome missile defense test succeeds

The Pentagon has successfully conducted the first milestone test of the Golden Dome for America missile defense program, officials announced this week. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared the June 23 demonstration a "full mission success," stating that the system autonomously detected, tracked, targeted, and destroyed multiple simulated drone and cruise missile threats using directed-energy technology.

Hegseth, who said he witnessed the test, described it as a watershed moment for President Donald Trump's signature homeland defense initiative. The demonstration featured the Dynamic Defense Autonomous Defeat (DDAD) system, which officials said flawlessly cued and eliminated the incoming threats. Hegseth stated the test was executed on schedule and dynamically defeated every threat.

The Golden Dome program aims to create a multilayered shield capable of defending against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and drones. The administration's vision includes integrating space-based sensors and interceptors, ground-based systems, and advanced command networks into a single defense ecosystem for the entire U.S. homeland, including Alaska and Hawaii. Trump has...