Trump Reveals $175 Billion Golden Dome Missile Defense Strategy

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has unveiled a massive new defense initiative called the Golden Dome missile defense system.

This ambitious project comes with a price tag of $175 billion and aims to protect the United States from missile threats by utilizing satellites in space. Trump emphasized that the system is intended to counter potential threats from nations such as China and Russia.

During a press briefing at the White House, Trump confirmed that he has chosen a specific design for the missile defense shield and appointed U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein as the lead manager for this significant military program.

“The Golden Dome will safeguard our homeland,” Trump stated from the Oval Office, noting that Canada has expressed interest in collaborating on the initiative.

The project, which Trump initiated in January, seeks to establish a satellite network capable of detecting, tracking, and potentially intercepting incoming missiles. The defense system could involve the deployment of hundreds of satellites dedicated to missile detection and tracking.

With a budget of $175 billion, the implementation of Golden Dome is expected to take several years and will likely encounter political challenges and funding uncertainties.

Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns regarding the procurement process and the involvement of Trump ally Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which is emerging as a front-runner—alongside Palantir and Anduril—to construct key components of the defense system.

The concept for Golden Dome is inspired by Israel’s land-based Iron Dome defense system, which protects the country from missile attacks. Trump’s Golden Dome is considerably more extensive, featuring a vast array of surveillance satellites and a separate fleet designed to intercept and eliminate offensive missiles shortly after launch.

The Pentagon’s efforts to test and eventually acquire the missiles, systems, sensors, and satellites that will constitute the Golden Dome initiative were officially initiated with Tuesday’s announcement.