Charles Esther
President Donald Trump officially announced his plan for the Golden Dome missile defense system on Tuesday.
He told reporters that the system would likely cost $175 billion and take about three years to complete.
The plan centers on deploying a constellation of space-based interceptors designed to shoot down missiles from orbit, marking the first time the U.S. aims to put anti-missile weapons in space.
Cost and Timeline of the Golden Dome
Trump estimated the total cost of the Golden Dome system at $175 billion.
He requested an initial $25 billion to start construction through a tax break bill currently under congressional consideration.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that operating space-based interceptors alone could cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over 20 years.
The wide range depends on how many interceptors are purchased to counter threats from China and Russia.
Multi-Layered Missile Defense Approach
The Golden Dome is designed as a multi-layered shield combining space and ground capabilities.
It will detect and destroy enemy missiles before launch, intercept them mid-flight, and provide a final defense layer just before impact.
Trump said the system would be capable of intercepting missiles launched from anywhere in the world, including space.
Initially inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the system was renamed the Golden Dome earlier this year.
Focus on Space and Countering Peer Rivals
Trump emphasized that space warfare is a key element of the Golden Dome.
General Michael Guetlein, the Space Force’s vice chief of space operations, will lead the project.
Guetlein highlighted that U.S. rivals like China and Russia are rapidly modernizing their nuclear forces and developing space weapons.
China’s development of hypersonic missiles capable of fractional orbital bombardment poses a unique challenge the Golden Dome aims to address.
This missile technology allows missiles to exit and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, making detection and interception harder.
Shift from Traditional Missile Defense Strategy
The Golden Dome marks a strategic shift by focusing on peer competitors like China and Russia, rather than rogue states such as North Korea.
Previously, the U.S. relied on its nuclear deterrent to counter major rivals’ missile threats.
The CBO notes that countering China and Russia requires a larger and more advanced constellation of interceptors, driving costs higher.
Congressional Support and International Response
Trump expressed confidence in securing congressional funding for the project, citing the importance of saving lives in a volatile world.
However, China and Russia condemned the Golden Dome, calling it a destabilizing and unconstrained global missile defense system.
They warned the system could undermine strategic stability and escalate tensions.
Conclusion
The Golden Dome missile defense system represents an ambitious U.S. effort to develop space-based missile interception capabilities within three years at a cost of $175 billion.
It aims to provide a multi-layered defense shield against evolving missile threats from near-peer adversaries, particularly China and Russia.
The project faces significant technical, financial, and geopolitical challenges but signals a new era of missile defense strategy focused on space dominance.
