WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has announced the Golden Dome missile defence shield worth $175 billion to protect the homeland from advanced missile threats.
Trump, who assumed the office for his second term in January 2025, has approved the concept design of the latest defence system as he has also announced $25 billion in initial funding for the project.
Speaking the occasion, the US president said: “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 also called the project crucial for survival of the country.
President Trump has also announced that Space Force General Michael Guetlein will head the Golden Dome defence system project. Gen Guetlein is currently serving as vice chief of space operations at Space Force.
What We Know About Golden Dome Defence
The planned defence system is apparently inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, which is operational since 2011 to intercept missiles and rockets.
However, reports said the Golden Dome would be many times larger than the Iron Dome and designed to counter a wider range of threats, including hypersonic weapons and fractional orbital bombardment systems which are capable of delivering warheads from space.
According to Reuters, Golden Dome system would include a massive array of surveillance satellites and a separate fleet of attacking satellites that would shoot down offensive missiles soon after they are launched.
