CBO estimates that a national missile defense system possessing capabilities broadly consistent with those outlined in the President's executive order titled "The Iron Dome for America" would cost about $1.2 trillion in 2026 dollars to develop, deploy, and operate for 20 years.

Of that $1.2 trillion, acquisition costs would account for just over $1 trillion. That amount includes costs for the system's major components, ongoing research and development, and improvements in integration and performance. Annual operating costs would include the compensation of the additional personnel needed to run the system as well as maintenance, repair, and periodic upgrades to equipment. The most expensive component is the space-based interceptor layer, which accounts for about 70 percent of acquisition costs and 60 percent of total costs.