Donald Trump has unveiled plans for his ‘Golden Dome’, a missile defence shield worth £130 billion – aimed at neutralizing attacks from Russia and China.
In a theatrical press conference at the White House, the US president made big promises about ‘protecting the homeland’. Behind him was a cardboard backdrop of the system that resembled a science project at school.
He said: ‘Today, I’m pleased to announce that we have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors.’
class="wp-block-heading">Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome
This ambitious project draws direct inspiration from Israel’s infamous land-based Iron Dome – but Trump’s vision appears far grander in scale.
It is much more extensive and is expected to includes a massive array of surveillance satellites.
Separately, there would also be a fleet of satellites that would shoot down offensive missiles soon after lift-off.
Keystone in Trump’s military planning
The shield is seen as the keystone to the Republican’s military planning after some of his promised – like the one about ending Russia’s invasion in Ukraine in just 24 hours – did not exactly pan out.
Trump said the project should be ‘fully operational before the end of my term,’ which would be before January 2028.
He said the system will be built in Alaska, Florida, Georgia and Indiana, and involve several defence and technology companies.
‘Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space,’ he said.
‘And we will have the best system ever built.’
Trump took full credit for the shield, telling reporters that he suggested a comprehensive new missile defence system to US military leaders – not the other way around.
He said: ‘I suggested it and they all said, ‘We love the idea, sir.’
‘That’s the way it has to be, right? But they want it. And they wanted it badly once it was suggested.’
Funding does not match Trump’s ambitions
At a cost of £130 billion, the ‘Golden Dome’ will take years to implement, as the controversial programme faces both political scrutiny and funding uncertainty.
Democrats have expressed concerns about the procurement process and the involvement of Elon Musk.
His company, SpaceX, has already emerged as a frontrunner alongside Palantir (PLTR.O) and Anduril to build key components of the system.
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