IRONDOME Act of 2025

Key Points

• The bill authorizes $19.5 billion in fiscal year 2026 to dramatically expand U.S. missile defense capabilities, covering interceptors, radar systems, space-based sensors, and new defense installations across the country.
• The largest single investment is $12 billion to expand the Next Generation Interceptor field at Fort Greely, Alaska, to 80 units by January 1, 2038, making it the backbone of homeland missile defense.
• The bill calls for new Aegis Ashore missile defense sites on the East Coast and in Alaska, plus completing one in Hawaii, to provide layered defense coverage across the entire country.
• To speed up construction of missile defense infrastructure, the Secretary of Defense could waive any regulations, including environmental rules, that would slow down projects tied to urgent defense needs.
• The bill pushes the military to develop cutting-edge technologies like space-based interceptors, autonomous drone defenses, directed energy weapons, and dirigible-based detection systems to counter hypersonic and cruise missile threats.
• It directs the Pentagon to work with allies on sharing missile defense technology and to secure the supply chains needed to build these defense systems.