United States President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping missile defence plan, called the Golden Dome, which he says will be the first US weapon system deployed in space. Estimated to cost around $175 billion, the system is projected to be operational in about three years—by the end of Trump’s current term in office.
“In the campaign, I promised the American people I would build a cutting-edge missile defence shield... Today, I am pleased to announce we have officially selected the architecture for this state-of-the-art system,” Trump said during a White House address.
The Golden Dome marks a significant technological shift in how the US envisions national defence, aiming to intercept threats not just from land or sea—but from space itself.
What is the Golden Dome?
Intercepting threats across four phases
The Golden Dome is a layered missile defence system that will operate both terrestrially and in orbit. It is designed to detect, track, and neutralise missiles at four distinct stages of their trajectory—pre-launch, boost, midcourse, and terminal descent. According to Trump, this will allow the US to intercept threats “even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space.”
The system will use next-generation technologies, including space-based sensors and interceptors. “It will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea and space,” Trump said.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, speaking at the same event, noted that the Golden Dome is being developed to protect the United States “from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they’re conventional or nuclear.”
The Inspiration: From Iron Dome to Golden Dome
A bigger, bolder cousin of Israel’s system
The name Golden Dome draws inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome, a system that has successfully intercepted thousands of short-range projectiles since 2011. However, the US version will operate on a vastly different scale.
“The Golden Dome would have to cover a much larger area, for starters,” said Wes Rumbaugh from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Unlike the Iron Dome, which defends small urban areas from rocket attacks, the Golden Dome aims to cover the entire US mainland and deal with far more sophisticated threats, including hypersonic and intercontinental missiles.
Who’s leading the mission?
Space Force takes the helm
Trump has appointed General Michael Guetlein, currently Vice Chief of Space Operations, to lead the development of the Golden Dome. A seasoned officer with over 30 years in the Air Force and Space Force, Guetlein is regarded as a specialist in missile defence and space operations.
A visual presentation shared at the announcement showed the continental United States painted gold—a symbolic representation of the system’s envisioned protective coverage.
Donald Trump's Golden Dome: What will it cost?
A staggering budget over two decades
Initial funding of $25 billion has been announced, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the full system, especially its space-based components, could cost more than $500 billion over 20 years.
According to Forbes, the spending will be spread out in phases, and the final bill will depend on how densely interceptors and sensors are deployed in orbit. Planners at the Pentagon are reportedly assessing three capability tiers—medium, high, and “extra high.”
Still, the project remains in its early stages. “There is no money for the project yet, and Golden Dome overall is still in the conceptual stage,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink during Senate testimony.
Space Weapons: Are they ambitious, risky, or unproven
Lasers, satellites, and technical hurdles
Experts suggest the Golden Dome could include directed-energy systems, such as space-based lasers. These would be capable of intercepting missiles shortly after launch, but the infrastructure required is colossal. “Each one of your defensive space-based lasers [would be] the equivalent of the Hubble telescope,” said Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution.
The technical challenge lies not only in creating such powerful systems but also in maintaining them in orbit under high-risk conditions.
How are other nations reacting?
Russia and China voice strong opposition
The plan has triggered strong reactions from other world powers. In a joint statement, Russia and China described the Golden Dome as “deeply destabilising in nature,” warning that it could transform space into a “battlefield.”
“It explicitly provides for a significant strengthening of the arsenal for conducting combat operations in space,” the Kremlin noted following talks between Moscow and Beijing.
These concerns stem from the fear that space could become militarised, accelerating an arms race beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Who else might join?
Canada expresses interest
While the Golden Dome is primarily designed to shield the US, Trump mentioned that Canada has shown interest in joining the programme. “They want to have protection also,” he said.
No formal agreement has yet been announced, but it could open doors for future cooperation with allied nations concerned about missile threats.
An old idea revived with modern tools
The Golden Dome is not without historical echoes. Trump drew parallels with the Strategic Defence Initiative, also known as Star Wars, proposed by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
“Ronald Reagan wanted it many years ago, but they didn’t have the technology,” Trump said. His administration now claims the required advancements are finally within reach.
Still, the success of such a grand-scale defence system depends heavily on innovation, funding, and long-term political will.
The Golden Dome represents a monumental step into a new frontier of defence—one that could either reinforce US security or deepen geopolitical rifts. As the project inches forward, it will remain under intense scrutiny both at home and abroad. Whether it becomes a shield or a spark in the new era of space competition is yet to be seen.
(With inputs from AFP)
“In the campaign, I promised the American people I would build a cutting-edge missile defence shield... Today, I am pleased to announce we have officially selected the architecture for this state-of-the-art system,” Trump said during a White House address.
The Golden Dome marks a significant technological shift in how the US envisions national defence, aiming to intercept threats not just from land or sea—but from space itself.
What is the Golden Dome?
Intercepting threats across four phases
The Golden Dome is a layered missile defence system that will operate both terrestrially and in orbit. It is designed to detect, track, and neutralise missiles at four distinct stages of their trajectory—pre-launch, boost, midcourse, and terminal descent. According to Trump, this will allow the US to intercept threats “even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space.”
The system will use next-generation technologies, including space-based sensors and interceptors. “It will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea and space,” Trump said.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, speaking at the same event, noted that the Golden Dome is being developed to protect the United States “from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they’re conventional or nuclear.”
The Inspiration: From Iron Dome to Golden Dome
A bigger, bolder cousin of Israel’s system
The name Golden Dome draws inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome, a system that has successfully intercepted thousands of short-range projectiles since 2011. However, the US version will operate on a vastly different scale.
“The Golden Dome would have to cover a much larger area, for starters,” said Wes Rumbaugh from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Unlike the Iron Dome, which defends small urban areas from rocket attacks, the Golden Dome aims to cover the entire US mainland and deal with far more sophisticated threats, including hypersonic and intercontinental missiles.
Who’s leading the mission?
Space Force takes the helm
Trump has appointed General Michael Guetlein, currently Vice Chief of Space Operations, to lead the development of the Golden Dome. A seasoned officer with over 30 years in the Air Force and Space Force, Guetlein is regarded as a specialist in missile defence and space operations.
A visual presentation shared at the announcement showed the continental United States painted gold—a symbolic representation of the system’s envisioned protective coverage.
Donald Trump's Golden Dome: What will it cost?
A staggering budget over two decades
Initial funding of $25 billion has been announced, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the full system, especially its space-based components, could cost more than $500 billion over 20 years.
According to Forbes, the spending will be spread out in phases, and the final bill will depend on how densely interceptors and sensors are deployed in orbit. Planners at the Pentagon are reportedly assessing three capability tiers—medium, high, and “extra high.”
Still, the project remains in its early stages. “There is no money for the project yet, and Golden Dome overall is still in the conceptual stage,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink during Senate testimony.
Space Weapons: Are they ambitious, risky, or unproven
Lasers, satellites, and technical hurdles
Experts suggest the Golden Dome could include directed-energy systems, such as space-based lasers. These would be capable of intercepting missiles shortly after launch, but the infrastructure required is colossal. “Each one of your defensive space-based lasers [would be] the equivalent of the Hubble telescope,” said Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution.
The technical challenge lies not only in creating such powerful systems but also in maintaining them in orbit under high-risk conditions.
How are other nations reacting?
Russia and China voice strong opposition
The plan has triggered strong reactions from other world powers. In a joint statement, Russia and China described the Golden Dome as “deeply destabilising in nature,” warning that it could transform space into a “battlefield.”
“It explicitly provides for a significant strengthening of the arsenal for conducting combat operations in space,” the Kremlin noted following talks between Moscow and Beijing.
These concerns stem from the fear that space could become militarised, accelerating an arms race beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Who else might join?
Canada expresses interest
While the Golden Dome is primarily designed to shield the US, Trump mentioned that Canada has shown interest in joining the programme. “They want to have protection also,” he said.
No formal agreement has yet been announced, but it could open doors for future cooperation with allied nations concerned about missile threats.
An old idea revived with modern tools
The Golden Dome is not without historical echoes. Trump drew parallels with the Strategic Defence Initiative, also known as Star Wars, proposed by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
“Ronald Reagan wanted it many years ago, but they didn’t have the technology,” Trump said. His administration now claims the required advancements are finally within reach.
Still, the success of such a grand-scale defence system depends heavily on innovation, funding, and long-term political will.
The Golden Dome represents a monumental step into a new frontier of defence—one that could either reinforce US security or deepen geopolitical rifts. As the project inches forward, it will remain under intense scrutiny both at home and abroad. Whether it becomes a shield or a spark in the new era of space competition is yet to be seen.
(With inputs from AFP)
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