DOD reschedules key missile defense industry events amid surging interest

The Defense Department is postponing two high-profile missile defense events originally slated for late April in Huntsville, AL, after receiving what officials called "overwhelming response" from industry.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced the change April 8, moving both the April 29 Next-Generation Missile Defense Summit and the April 30-May 2 Space-Based Interceptor (SBI) Industry Engagement to later, unspecified dates. Both events will remain in the Huntsville area. Updated registration information is expected in the coming days.

The shift marks a significant moment in the Pentagon’s push to attract a broader range of companies -- including nontraditional contractors -- to help shape “Golden Dome for America,” the Trump administration’s ambitious new missile defense initiative.

The rescheduled summit, originally to be held at Redstone Arsenal’s Von Braun Complex III, was designed as an unclassified event aimed at informing industry of the Pentagon’s evolving vision for a layered homeland missile shield. MDA and the Space Force emphasized they want to equip potential partners with the knowledge to align future technologies with government needs, particularly from companies offering “outside the box” thinking.

The SBI engagement, scheduled to follow the summit, is more technically focused and includes classified briefings and one-on-one sessions. MDA is seeking concepts for orbital interceptors capable of destroying missiles in the boost phase -- potentially reviving elements of Reagan-era space defense efforts. The agency is considering both kinetic and non-kinetic solutions, and specifically prioritizing proposals that could mature into full fire control systems or interceptor packages.

The surge in interest underscores growing private-sector momentum behind Golden Dome, which President Trump formalized in a January executive order. While critics warn of cost and feasibility concerns, proponents argue advances in space launch, sensor miniaturization and artificial intelligence make a national missile shield more realistic than ever.