Golden Dome missile defence
Trump Introduces $175 Billion Space-Based Defence Initiative to Protect Against Evolving Missile Threats.
Discover the Golden Dome, a revolutionary $175 billion missile defence program introduced by President Trump. Learn how this multi-layered system aims to protect the U.S. from modern missile threats using advanced space-based technologies.
US President Donald Trump has significantly advanced US defence initiatives by officially introducing the groundbreaking concept of the Golden Dome. This is a pioneering approach in national defence strategy. This $175 billion missile defence program signifies a significant departure from any previous U.S. defence initiatives, heralding a transformative new era in the realm of national security and protection against evolving threats.
The Golden Dome represents a sophisticated, multi-layered defence system that integrates both terrestrial and space-based technologies to effectively protect the US homeland from a wide range of missile threats. For the very first time, this advanced system will utilise space-borne weaponry capable of intercepting missiles at various critical stages of their flight trajectory. This groundbreaking and innovative approach offers renewed hope in effectively addressing the ever-evolving and complex threats that the nation faces today.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated, "The system will become fully operational before the end of my term," which concludes in January 2029. He emphasised the initiative's unprecedented scope, claiming that the Golden Dome can intercept missile threats "even if they are launched from space."
Trump also referenced the 1980s Strategic Defence Initiative, known as "Star Wars," saying, "Ronald Reagan wanted it many years ago, but they didn't have the technology." His administration now asserts that the technological advancements necessary for the system's viability are finally within reach.
Purpose of the Golden Dome
The Golden Dome is specifically designed to function effectively across four essential stages of missile flight: pre-launch, boost phase, midcourse, and terminal descent. This innovative concept is aimed at neutralising potential threats at any point along their trajectory, thereby providing comprehensive, broad-spectrum protection against a wide variety of missile attacks. This includes advanced hypersonic systems that have been developed by both China and Russia, enhancing the defensive capabilities against emerging global threats.
Components of the Golden Dome will be drawn from existing US missile defence assets, including Patriot missile batteries, THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence, and Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD). These systems have long been the backbone of the US defence against ballistic and cruise missile threats.
However, the Golden Dome's defining feature will be its space-based interceptors—an innovative development involving deploying new weapons into orbit. According to defence experts, these interceptors could include directed-energy systems, such as lasers, capable of destroying missiles shortly after launch.
Cost of the Golden Dome
The Golden Dome plan carries an unprecedented price tag. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the space-based elements alone could cost up to $542 billion over the next two decades. The Trump administration is seeking an initial allocation of $25 billion from a proposed tax break bill advancing through Congress, highlighting the significant financial commitment required for this ambitious project.
Pentagon planners are evaluating three tiers of capability—medium, high, and "extra high"—based on the scale of satellite and interceptor deployment. These tiers differ in the density of space-based sensors and interceptors across orbital networks.
Despite Trump's confident claims, the Golden Dome is still in the early stages of development. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink clarified in testimony before the Senate, "There is no money for the project yet, and Golden Dome overall is still in the conceptual stage." The US Department of Defence and U.S. Northern Command are still drafting the initial capabilities document that will define the operational requirements for the new defence system.
Comparison of the Golden Dome and Israel's Iron Dome
While the name "Golden Dome" may evoke comparisons to Israel's Iron Dome—designed to intercept short-range projectiles—experts point out that the similarities are superficial. The geographic scale of the Golden Dome is vastly different. "The Golden Dome would have to cover a much larger area, for starters," said Wes Rumbaugh, a fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Unlike the Iron Dome, which specialises in protecting relatively small areas from rockets and artillery, the US system must address intercontinental and hypersonic threats across the expansive continental territory. The Golden Dome must also track and intercept various missile types at greater distances and higher altitudes, including those launched from orbit. This presents several technical risks, particularly regarding deploying laser-equipped satellites into space.
"You’ve got to be pretty confident you’re going to get everything, or at least knock everything off course," noted Michael O'Hanlon, Director of Research at the Brookings Institution.
The Golden Dome is significant for geopolitics. Its introduction could shift the balance of power in the global arena, a crucial point for the audience to understand. In a joint statement earlier this month, China and Russia described the Golden Dome concept as "deeply destabilising in nature," warning that it risks militarising outer space and escalating an arms race.
These nations already possess anti-satellite capabilities, and the US has accused them of deploying offensive space systems that could turn off American satellites.
In 2023, the US claimed that Russia was developing a nuclear-based orbital weapon designed to remain in space for long durations before emitting a disruptive burst capable of knocking out nearby satellites.
"These represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organisations," Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, told Congress.
Despite these tensions, Trump noted that he had not spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Golden Dome, saying, "But at the right time, we will."
For nearly two decades, US missile defence policy has been tailored to thwart limited missile attacks from states such as North Korea and Iran, rather than major nuclear powers like Russia and China.
A shift to a more comprehensive defence posture, especially one that includes space-based weapons, could alter long-standing strategic balances.
According to O'Hanlon, attempting to neutralise an entire nuclear strike from Russia or China would ignite a new arms race and place further strain on defence budgets. "Even if you just sized the system to today's Russian nuclear arsenal, and you wanted to build a multi-layer capability that Trump has talked about, that is already enormously expensive."
He estimates the cost of a limited version of such a system could reach around $500 billion.
Furthermore, the coordination challenges across military branches—including the Missile Defence Agency, Space Force, Army, Navy, and Air Force—will be complex. The audience should be aware of this complexity.
Questions remain about how the different arms of the US defence establishment will collaborate in managing and executing the Golden Dome's various components.
Nonetheless, some experts support the move toward a more robust missile shield. "I think that there could be some benefits to even a limited, partially effective missile defence system," O'Hanlon said, noting the continuing threat posed by rogue state actors and the need for preparedness against a limited nuclear strike.
The current methods the United States employs to defend itself.
While the Golden Dome is currently under development, the United States continues to depend on an extensive network of sophisticated missile defence systems that are already operational.
Among these systems are:
Patriot missile batteries – Specifically designed to provide defence against tactical ballistic missiles, aircraft, and cruise missiles, ensuring protection in various combat scenarios.
THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) – This system is capable of intercepting threats in the upper atmosphere and just beyond it, offering a crucial layer of defence against incoming missiles.
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence – A versatile sea-based system primarily used on naval vessels, which has also been adapted for effective land use to enhance missile defence capabilities.
Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD) – This system is tasked with intercepting long-range missiles during their midcourse trajectory, playing a vital role in national security.
AVENGER – A highly mobile defence system that employs Stinger missiles to engage hostile aircraft and cruise missiles in real-time effectively.
Collectively, these advanced systems create a robust, layered defence strategy that is capable of addressing a wide range of missile threats. However, the introduction of the Golden Dome would signify a monumental advancement in the air defence capabilities of the United States, further enhancing national security and air defence.
