The "Golden Dome" is an ambitious missile defense initiative announced by former President Donald Trump. It is a multilayered defense system designed to protect the United States from a wide range of aerial threats including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, and drone swarms. The system is planned to include a combination of ground- and space-based sensors, interceptors, and lasers, with the capability to detect, track, and intercept missiles from their launch, even if launched from other parts of the world or outer space. Key features of the Golden Dome include:
- Deployment of hundreds of satellites in space to detect missile launches globally, including early detection.
- Multiple layers of defense that can intercept missiles during different phases of flight (boost, midcourse, terminal).
- Use of advanced interceptor missiles both on the ground and in space.
- AI-powered command centers for rapid data analysis and real-time response coordination.
- The creation of new missile fields in the US Midwest, complementing existing fields in California and Alaska.
President Trump projected the total cost of the Golden Dome at around $175 billion, with some initial funding already allocated by Congress. The system draws inspiration from Israel's Iron Dome, which protects against shorter- range rocket threats, but the Golden Dome is designed to cover the entire US and counter a broader array of missile threats. The Golden Dome is intended to address modern missile threats that current defense systems may not fully counter, including hypersonic vehicles and space-based threats, thereby aiming to provide a comprehensive shield over the United States. General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force was appointed to lead the project, reflecting its emphasis on space-based defense capabilities. The initiative represents one of the most ambitious missile defense efforts in US history but faces significant technical challenges and high costs, with experts noting that it may take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars to fully realize.
