Golden Dome's projected cost just jumped $10 billion. Experts fear that's just for starters.

"We were asked to procure some additional space capabilities. So, we are at $185 billion for the objective architecture, which delivers way out into the 2035 timeframe."

"There's been numerous cost estimates out there in excess of a trillion dollars. I would say the difference between what they are estimating and what we are building is they're not estimating what I'm building. We are changing that equation for Golden Dome, simplifying it, if you will, just aggregating it, if you will, to bring down that cost equation."

"My understanding is that is just the near-term cost to acquire an initial level of capability. It's not the total acquisition cost, and it does not include long-term operation and replenishment."

The Space Force's Golden Dome missile defense project has seen its official cost estimate rise from $175 billion to $185 billion, according to Gen. Michael Guetlein. However, independent experts project significantly higher expenses. The Congressional Budget Office estimates $542 billion to $831 billion over 20 years, while an American Enterprise Institute report suggests the highest-end architecture could cost $3.6 trillion. Guetlein attributes cost reduction efforts to simplifying and aggregating the project architecture. Experts note the $185 billion figure likely represents only initial space-based interceptor capabilities and excludes long-term operational and replenishment costs.

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