Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, May 21: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious $175 billion missile defence system dubbed the Golden Dome, appointing US Space Force General Michael Guetlein to lead what he called a “Manhattan Project-scale” initiative to shield the nation from global aerial threats.
Announcing the plan from the Oval Office, Trump said the system would protect the entire continental United States and Canada, and be fully operational within three years before the end of his term. “This is a great day for America,” he declared, seated beside a poster portraying the US in gold with visuals of missiles being intercepted mid-air.
The Golden Dome is envisioned as a network of satellites capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting missiles launched from anywhere on Earth even from space. The project is a major upgrade from the earlier concept, the “Iron Dome for America,” which was rebranded in February to avoid confusion with Israel’s existing missile defence system.
General Guetlein, known for his expertise in space-based defence systems, previously called the effort “comparable in scope to the Manhattan Project,” and emphasized the need for strong national commitment to realize it.
Despite Trump’s confident announcement, defence analysts remain sceptical. Critics warn that scaling up Israel’s short-range Iron Dome to a system capable of protecting an entire continent from advanced ballistic and hypersonic missiles poses massive technical challenges. The Israeli system defends against short-range threats, while the US version would have to counter long-range missiles potentially launched from across the globe.
Earlier estimates from the Congressional Budget Office placed the cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over two decades. A 2012 National Research Council report warned the cost could escalate to $831 billion, while some lawmakers, like Senator Tim Sheehy, believe the eventual cost may touch trillions.
Leading tech and defence firms such as SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril are vying to provide components for the satellite-based system, which will rely on low Earth orbit satellites for real-time tracking and interception.
On Capitol Hill, Republicans have moved to earmark $27 billion for the project in a broader $150 billion defence package, tied to Trump’s tax-cut reconciliation bill.
However, critics argue the project may reignite a space arms race and undermine existing arms-control treaties. The Union of Concerned Scientists labelled the project “fantasy,” citing its vulnerability to countermeasures and historical failures of similar proposals. “Trump’s idea of a space-based missile defence is a bad investment,” the group stated.
As debate intensifies, the Golden Dome has emerged as one of the most ambitious and controversial defence initiatives of Trump’s presidency.