US working to develop Golden Dome defence system to protect against long-range threats

US military officials are working to develop a Golden Dome missile defence system, which aims to protect the country from long-range missile strikes. 

The White House has reportedly informed military leaders that no expense will be spared to fulfill this initiative, which aligns with one of former President Donald Trump’s top Pentagon priorities, Caliber.Az reports, referencing CNN.

The "Golden Dome" is the Trump administration's rebranding of plans to develop a missile defence system similar to Israel's Iron Dome. However, unlike the Iron Dome, which focuses on short-range threats over a small area, Trump’s vision involves a space-based system designed to defend the entire US from advanced ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The details of the system remain unclear beyond its name, and it is still undefined in terms of its technical specifications and design.

At a time when the Pentagon is facing budget cuts, the Trump administration has instructed military officials to ensure that future funding for the "Golden Dome" is reflected in budget estimates for 2026 to 2030. While the system remains largely conceptual, the Missile Defense Agency has already solicited input from defence contractors to help plan and develop the system. Lockheed Martin, for example, has created a website promoting its capabilities in contributing to the development of Golden Dome, claiming to have the experience needed to bring the initiative to fruition.

Currently, the US's ballistic missile defence relies on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which is designed to defend against a limited number of missiles from countries like North Korea and Iran. However, the GMD has struggled, with nearly half of its tests failing. As a result, it is deemed inadequate for stopping a major attack from powers like Russia or China.

In his executive order, Trump called for a far more ambitious defence system, including space-based interceptors capable of taking down missiles moments after they launch. This would require deploying thousands of interceptors in low Earth orbit to ensure even a single missile from a country like North Korea could be intercepted.

According to the American Physical Society, a single interceptor in orbit is unlikely to be in the right place at the right time, which means a much larger number of interceptors would be necessary to provide adequate coverage for the US.

By Khagan Isayev