Open Standards and Consortium Building for Golden Dome

Golden Dome’s success depends on more than advanced sensors, interceptors, or algorithms—it depends on whether these systems can speak the same language. Today, there are no open standards guiding how data is structured, transported, fused, or used across the kill web. This creates fragmentation, slows integration, and increases risk. But it also creates an unprecedented opportunity: to architect the principles, interfaces, and shared frameworks that will define the future of homeland missile defense. 

Parallax/OAI is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. With experience designing and operating national consortia such as the Propulsion Instrumentation Working Group (PIWG), we have demonstrated the ability to convene diverse stakeholders—industry primes, innovative SMEs, academia, national labs, and government program offices—into a unified, productive ecosystem. Our approach is grounded in neutral facilitation, strategic alignment of incentives, and practical mechanisms that ensure both innovation and adoption. 

“When it comes to standards, industry usually drives it—not from labs out into the market, but from the demand side back. The primes closest to government needs set expectations. Our role is to match primes with SMEs, set clear IP expectations, and create terms that attract all players,” said Anthony Gillespie, Director, Strategic and Technology-Based Partnerships & Technology Transfer Office 

The Mechanics of Collaboration Matter 

Standards aren’t just technical artifacts—they are relationships, incentives, and agreements. Gillespie emphasizes that real progress comes from designing the conditions that enable collaboration. 

“Expectations around IP ownership need to be defined up front. That’s what keeps partners engaged and willing to contribute.” 

Clear contracting models, transparent IP terms, and predictable governance structures ensure that partners—from the largest primes to the smallest startups—see value in contributing to Golden Dome’s digital backbone. 

Parallax/OAI has repeatedly demonstrated how to create these conditions. We have structured consortia that: 

This ability to move from innovation to integration is critical for Golden Dome. 

A Blueprint for Golden Dome Standards Development 

Establishing a standards working group for Golden Dome relies on a deliberate and inclusive process: 

1. Landscape & Benchmarking 

Study past and allied missile-defense architectures—including Israeli models—to identify proven patterns and gaps. 

2. Needs Assessment 

Engage government and primes to identify urgent schema, interface, and data-exchange requirements. 

3. Technology-Based Working Groups 

Stand up specialized streams for: 

Each working group brings domain experts together while maintaining architectural coherence. 

4. Reference Artifacts 

Publish foundational materials such as: 

These artifacts become the shared "source of truth" for all contributors. 

5. LVC Pilot Testing 

Evaluate standards using real data feeds inside LVC testbeds, validating performance under operationally relevant conditions. 

6. SME On-Ramps 

Enable smaller innovators through starter kits—schemas, code snippets, conformance tests—so they can integrate quickly and cost-effectively. 

As Gillespie summarizes: “Organize working groups by technology area—with an integrator looking across them—and let the experts guide the roadmap. Our role is to build the table, set the rules, and keep everyone at it.” 

Moving from Stovepipes to a Unified Enterprise 

Golden Dome cannot meet its mission with siloed systems. It requires a standards-driven architecture that is interoperable, extensible, and adaptable as threats evolve. Standards are not paperwork—they are the foundation of integration, the enabler of fusion, and the guardrails for innovation.