As governments and defense organizations evaluate next-generation layered defense architectures, the stratosphere is emerging as a critical operational layer.
Positioned between conventional aircraft and satellites, high altitude platform stations (HAPS) offer a flexible, persistent, and cost-effective way to complement existing defense capabilities. Operating in the stratosphere, HAPS can support communications, sensing, networking, and testing while helping close gaps in coverage, connectivity, and system resilience.
This opportunity is explored in a new HAPS Alliance white paper, “HAPS in the Golden Dome: The Strategic Value of the Stratosphere in Layered Defensive Architectures.”
The paper explores how HAPS can support initiatives such as the U.S. Golden Dome and broader layered defense planning while complementing existing ground, airborne, maritime, and space-based systems as part of future integrated defense strategies.
A New Layer for Integrated Defense
Modern defense architectures increasingly depend on coordinated sensing, communications, and decision-making across multiple domains. As systems become more connected and distributed, resilience depends on the ability to maintain coverage, share information, and adapt quickly when portions of the network are degraded or disrupted.
HAPS can help address these requirements from a distinct position in the stratosphere. Operating well above conventional air traffic and below satellites, they can provide persistent regional coverage, extended line of sight, and the flexibility to reposition as operational needs change.
“Defense organizations increasingly require highly coordinated sensing and tracking, resilient communications, and faster decision-making systems operating across multiple domains simultaneously. That creates difficult engineering and operational challenges,” says Kyle Doverspike, chair of the HAPS Alliance Defense Applications Working Group and Senior Product Manager, Stratospheric Solutions for Aerostar.
Why HAPS Are Well Positioned
Defense architectures often rely on terrestrial infrastructure, airborne systems, and space-based assets.
Ground systems can face terrain constraints and limited line of sight. Satellites provide broad coverage but may introduce tradeoffs in latency and operational flexibility, while conventional aircraft can be costly to keep continuously on station.
HAPS occupy a complementary position between these layers. Operating at roughly 20 kilometers, they can provide broad-area sensing, rapid deployment, flexible repositioning, and redundant communications paths.
That combination makes HAPS a promising mid-layer capability for future defense architectures, particularly where persistent coverage, resilient communications, and operational flexibility are essential.
Continuing the Conversation Through the DAWG Roundtable
The conversation continued on 23 July 2026 during the 2026 HAPS Alliance Defense Roundtable: Stratospheric Platforms in the Golden Dome and Layered Defensive Architectures, hosted by the HAPS Alliance Defense Applications Working Group (DAWG). The virtual event brought together DAWG leadership, industry experts, and HAPS Alliance members to explore the role of HAPS in the Golden Dome and other layered defense architectures and expand on key themes from the new white paper. The presentation slides from the Roundtable are available for review and download here.
During the Roundtable, Kyle Doverspike noted that the white paper was developed by members of the DAWG and highlighted the potential of the stratosphere as an additional operational layer not only for Golden Dome, but also for layered defensive initiatives internationally. The discussion considered applications including persistent mid-layer sensing, communications extension and relay, contested electronic warfare support, maritime domain awareness and gap filling, and rapid test and training.
The discussion reinforced a central theme of the white paper: HAPS are not intended to replace terrestrial, airborne, maritime, or space-based systems. Instead, they can provide a complementary stratospheric layer that may strengthen coverage, resilience, and operational flexibility across future defense architectures.
The Roundtable also underscored the importance of continued collaboration and knowledge sharing as industry and government stakeholders evaluate how stratospheric platforms could be incorporated into future defense strategies.
Strengthening Resilience Across Defense Layers
As defense architectures evolve, resilience increasingly depends on the ability to operate across interconnected layers rather than relying on any single platform or system.
“Future architectures may combine terrestrial networks, satellites, airborne platforms, edge computing systems, and autonomous coordination tools into highly distributed operational environments. In those environments, resilience depends on redundancy and flexibility rather than reliance on any single infrastructure layer,” says Kyle Doverspike.
HAPS can help support this approach by serving as a complementary mid-layer capability that enhances connectivity, extends coverage, and provides additional operational flexibility when mission requirements change.
Explore the White Paper
The HAPS Alliance white paper, “HAPS in the Golden Dome: The Strategic Value of the Stratosphere in Layered Defensive Architectures,” explores how stratospheric platforms can support initiatives such as the U.S. Golden Dome and broader layered defense planning.
Download the white paper to explore the strategic value of the stratosphere, the defense missions HAPS may support, and the opportunities and considerations associated with integrating HAPS into future layered architectures.