CEO Roberto Cingolani described it as essential stating “this is a model that is important for security in Italy, Europe, and NATO countries in the coming years.” The system draws inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome, operational since 2011, but expands to space, sea, land, air, and cyber domains.
System capabilities and technology
Michelangelo Dome acts like a shield, or “security dome,” that covers important areas such as cities, airports, military bases, and critical infrastructure. It fuses data from land, naval, airborne, and space sensors with predictive AI to detect, track, and neutralize threats via a kill web strategy, where AI selects optimal effectors at high speeds.
It anticipates hostile activity, optimizes asset positioning, and ensures NATO interoperability in a cyber-secure environment. Key features include handling hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, rockets, and hybrid threats.
Cingolani highlighted a new “Project Bromo” facility with Thales and Airbus to produce 100 satellites annually for missile warning and trajectory prediction. The open architecture coordinates platforms from subsurface to space, protecting critical infrastructure and urban areas.
“These satellites have to see an object flying at five kilometres per second,” Cingolani said according to AGN. “Those who have these satellites have a detection and forecast strength that nobody else has.”Unveiled amid Europe’s push for air defenses against Russia, following EU investments in Israeli systems, Michelangelo addresses vulnerabilities exposed by Ukraine conflicts. A joint Leonardo-Italian armed forces team will tailor it, with partial rollout soon and full operations by late 2027 or 2028. FAQs
Q. How does it differ from Israel’s Iron Dome?
Iron Dome focuses on short-range rockets since 2011; Michelangelo integrates multi-domain AI for hypersonics, drones, and cyber, spanning sea-to-space with predictive capabilities.
Q. What drives Europe’s urgency?
Rising Russian threats, including hypersonics and drones seen in Ukraine, prompt NATO-aligned shields.
Q. Is it deployable now?
Partial rollout imminent via Italian forces team; full system by 2027-2028, designed for interoperability with allies.