An industry rendering of a notional HBTSS detecting, tracking, and targeting a hypersonic weapon through the intercept phase. (Northrop Grumman)
The Trump administration has indicated a renewed focus on homeland defence, including a proposed ‘Iron Dome' air- and missile-defence shield. Industry is considering how it can best support these objectives.
Border security
In the border security space, Northrop Grumman provides surveillance capabilities, Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman, said at the Citi Global Industrial Tech and Mobility Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, on 19 February. “We don't see that changing for our portfolio other than the demand, but in terms of new requirements for capabilities, that's primarily where our orientation is,” she said.
HII's Mission Technologies segment will likely benefit from the renewed focus on homeland security, according to CEO of HII Chris Kastner, speaking at the Citi Global Industrial Tech and Mobility Conference on 18 February. This includes electronic warfare and cyber capabilities. On the shipbuilding side, HII has completed the National Security Cutter programme for the US Coast Guard but is prepared to build more should there be a requirement, he said.
Iron Dome for America
Taking its name from Israel's Iron Dome system, which is designed to defeat short-range rockets, artillery shells, and mortars, the Trump administration's ‘Iron Dome for America' is focused on defending against “ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries”, according to an executive order published on 27 January.
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