How the Army’s air defense lessons from Iran will inspire homeland defense changes

Published October 14, 2026 2:06pm ET | Updated October 14, 2026 2:06pm ET



Lessons learned from the roughly 2,500 soldiers from the Space and Missile Defense Command who have led the air defense mission against Iranian attacks will play a role in shaping the future of the Golden Dome for America.

The majority of the SMDC soldiers in the region, which makes up about 25-30% of the total force, are primarily those responsible for manning Patriot and THAAD air defense systems that intercepted incoming Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.

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