Illustration of missile threats Credit: Defense Intelligence Agency

WASHINGTON — A new report estimates the Golden Dome missile defense program could cost anywhere from $252 billion to $3.6 trillion over 20 years — depending on which threats it counters and where it provides coverage. The vast range underscores how many questions remain unanswered eight months after Trump announced the initiative, according to a study published Sept. 12 by the American Enterprise Institute.

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Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense...