The “golden dome” satellites face a big threat.

Artist's vision of Dream Chaser

One of the reasons why the Reagan-era Space Defense Initiative (SDI) terminated was simply this. Orbital space weapons were easy targets for the high-flying ASAT systems. Those systems could be large rockets. Like Soyuz-FG, which shoots a large number of small kinetic energy projectiles. Against those space weapons. The system must shoot only metal balls against those killer satellites. And that destroys them immediately. 

Technology advanced from the Reagan era. And there are new reusable rockets that can send things like miniature killer satellites to follow things. Like suspected orbital bombardment satellites. The fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS) are the most terrifying weapons on this planet. Those killer satellites send nuclear weapons against their targets from an orbital trajectory. The other systems are the EMP weapons that can be hidden in satellites. When those satellites are in the right position, the nuclear weapon inside them will be detonated. Those kinds of systems can destroy. The main components of the defense. Things like miniature stealth shuttles, miniature satellites. The miniature satellites can be capable. To form a bigger structure. The system can connect those satellites. Into a series, and if there is a railgun installed in the system, those miniature satellites can form a powerful entirety. 

Soyuz-FG

Reusable rockets can be used to return those systems back on Earth if they need some service. Those systems can also be used to kill satellites that are suspected to carry FOBS systems. The FOBS system can be a miniature shuttle that dives against its target in hypersonic speed. The stealth versions of the Dream Chaser, or X-37B shuttle. It can be the tool that can destroy the killer satellites. Or miniature satellites can follow those suspected FOBS satellites. The new satellites could also deliver things. Like drones over the target areas. Those drones can be used the AI to search and terminate their targets. Autonomous killer drones that drop from satellites can also be suitable for assassination missions. 

In the Soviet era. There was a plan. To protect missile silos by using metal rods. Those metal rods could be effective against incoming missiles. Or, that’s what the Soviets thought. They created the metal-rod-based active protection system (APS). That was quite similar to the  lighter APS systems, which should protect the tanks against incoming missiles and ammunition. The metal-rod-based defense was innovative. And there are plans. To use similar systems. Against drones. But as we know, the problem with those systems is the limited number of metal rods. Those metal rods could also be tools for attacking weapons. The USA planned to make the “rods of god” the orbital-based kinetic bombardment system. 

That system was planned to use metal rods. Those were shot against their targets from orbital satellites. The railguns and the gas-operating launching system can accelerate those metal rods to very high speeds. Those rods would melt in the atmosphere. And there were melted metal droplets that would drop to the ground. The system would use the chamber, where oxygen and hydrogen were blown to send the metal rod through the magnetic accelerator. The system can use a nuclear reactor or solar panels. To give energy to that railgun. In some visions, the rocket can launch a cannon at orbiter. That shoots 155mm concrete-filled ammunition to ground. Those kinds of artificial meteorites can be devastating if they hit something. 

There were also. Some plans to use the metal rods as an offensive weapon. The nuclear warheads could be shot at their targets with metal rods. Those metal rods that fly ahead of the nuclear warheads can destroy incoming anti-ballistic missiles (ABM). And in some other plans, the orbital killer satellites would be good targets for metal balls and metal rods that shot against them using ICBM missiles. Those missiles will transport small metal balls or metal rods to the orbiter. And those things can destroy the orbital battle stations. Orbital battle satellites are a large system. They are vulnerable to the other killer satellites. The miniature satellites can carry small metal bullets. Those systems can be quite small. And they can orbit the Earth in the opposite direction to the targeted satellites. When a miniature satellite recognizes its target, it can shoot metal rods or metal balls at it. 

https://www.rudebaguette.com/en/2025/10/they-changed-the-mission-midway-nasas-dream-chaser-spaceplane-breaks-free-from-the-iss-plan-and-its-aiming-for-defense-and-private-space/

https://www.sierraspace.com/blog/dream-chaser-vs-space-shuttle/

https://www.twz.com/air/soviets-tested-icbm-silo-defense-system-that-showered-incoming-warheads-with-clouds-of-metal-darts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractional_Orbital_Bombardment_System

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Dome_(missile_defense_system)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz-FG