WASHINGTON — Gen. Michael Guetlein, head of the Golden Dome missile defense program, said the Pentagon is taking a two-stage approach, planning to stitch together existing military systems for an initial missile shield in 2028 before transitioning to a more affordable architecture designed specifically for homeland defense by 2035.

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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...