The United States has acknowledged significant gaps in its homeland missile defence system, warning that it currently has no protection against hypersonic or long-range cruise missiles. Senior defence officials told lawmakers that existing systems were built to counter limited ballistic missile threats and are not equipped for the evolving capabilities of countries such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

The warning comes as President Donald Trump pushes for a sweeping new missile shield known as the 'Golden Dome'. The proposed system, estimated to cost between 175 billion and 185 billion dollars, would combine space-based sensors, ground interceptors, artificial intelligence-driven command systems and emerging technologies such as directed energy weapons. Officials aim to achieve initial operational capability by 2028.

Military leaders said the global threat landscape has shifted dramatically, with China identified as the primary strategic competitor due to its expanding missile arsenal and advances in cyber and electronic warfare. They argued that the United States must move beyond traditional deterrence toward a blend of deterrence and active defence to address multiple nuclear-armed rivals.

Lawmakers also raised concerns about funding methods and oversight, as well as weaknesses in the defence industrial base that limit interceptor production. While some questioned the need for such a costly system, Pentagon officials maintained that failing to defend the homeland would carry far greater risks.