US radar test could aid Golden Dome, track China and Russia missiles

The Pentagon’s new long-range radar in Alaska has passed a key test, tracking a missile target as part of efforts to build the Golden Dome defense shield.

The Pentagon has completed a successful test of its Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) in Alaska, marking a major step forward for the U.S. missile defense capabilities. The system could become a vital component in the planned Golden Dome missile shield designed to counter threats from Russia, China, and rogue states.

Conducted at Clear Space Force Station in Central Alaska, the test saw the radar acquire, track, and report data on a target launched over 2,000 kilometers from the Pacific. The radar, built by Lockheed Martin, is part of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system and aims to boost the efficiency of U.S. interceptors based in Alaska and California.

The LRDR is expected to serve as a critical sensor for the future $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense network. Modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome, the ambitious program seeks to deploy space-based and ground assets to detect and intercept ballistic missile threats. However, it faces political scrutiny over cost and feasibility, with deployment projected by January 2029.

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