But a key part of the sensor integration could be done in less than a year with proper funding, the leader of U.S. Northern Command told lawmakers.

“I will direct our military to begin construction of the great Iron Dome missile defence shield, which will be made all in the USA,” Trump said, adding that a missile attack “remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States”.

Protecting the U.S. would require novel solutions, like orbiting missile interceptors that can destroy incoming attacks.

Lawmakers recently introduced legislation to fund President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for the creation of an “Iron Dome for America,” which provided new insight into how the government and military may go about upgrading the homeland’s air defense systems.

Learn about the notice issued by the Space Development Agency calling for executive summaries on the conceptual Iron Dome for America missile defense system.