Golden Dome: Trump’s vision for space-based shield faces billion-dollar price tag

The Pentagon has presented multiple options—ranging from small to large-scale—for President Donald Trump’s ambitious missile defence initiative known as “Golden Dome,” a space-based shield aimed at protecting the US from long-range threats.

According to sources familiar with the planning, the proposed system could ultimately cost hundreds of billions of dollars, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating a potential total of more than $500 billion over 20 years, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Trump is expected to select a preferred path and associated price tag in the coming days, a decision that will determine the scope and timeline for development. The fiscal year 2026 budget is already being adjusted to include funding projections for the program, with $25 billion earmarked for the next year’s defence budget.

“The Secretary of Defence and other Department leaders have engaged with the President to present options and look forward to announcing the path forward in the coming days,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed.

At the core of Golden Dome is the vision of a space-based defense network modeled loosely on Israel’s Iron Dome—but on a much larger scale. Experts note, however, that the systems are not easily comparable. As one official said, “In practical terms, the comparison is less apples to oranges, and more apples to aircraft carriers.”

The system, if realized, would include about 100 existing or in-development programs, with one entirely new element: the command, control, and integration layer. This complexity necessitates a designated program manager or “Golden Dome czar,” with General Michael A. Guetlein, vice chief of space operations at the US Space Force, under consideration.

Private sector players are already positioning themselves to benefit from the project. SpaceX, along with Anduril and Palantir, has briefed officials and lobbied Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Musk’s involvement, given his ties to Trump, has drawn criticism from Democrats, prompting calls for oversight. Still, some officials defend SpaceX’s role, saying, “So, like, yes, SpaceX is probably the leading contender, but they’re the only legit shop in town for this right now.”

Despite the enthusiasm, concerns about cost and management persist. “I’m 34 years in this business. I’ve never seen an early estimate that was too high,” said General Chance Saltzman of the Space Force.

Delays in early planning stages, including missed deadlines and internal dysfunction, have also raised doubts about execution. For now, Golden Dome remains a concept—albeit one with massive implications.

By Vafa Guliyeva