The Golden Dome missile defence system is officially in motion.
United States President Donald Trump has selected its design and pledged it will be operational before his term ends.
The ambitious project aims to counter next-generation aerial threats, including ballistic and cruise missiles.
The initial budget? $25 billion, though estimates suggest the final price tag could skyrocket to $175 billion — or even $542 billion over two decades for space-based components alone.
Officials warn that current defences are outdated, unable to keep pace with Russia and China’s evolving missile technology.
Leading the charge is Space Force General Michael Neutlein, who has been appointed to oversee the project.
Trump wasted no time — just seven days into his second term, he ordered the Defense Department to draft plans for a system capable of deterring and defending against aerial attacks.
The Golden Dome will deploy land, sea, and space-based sensors and interceptors, creating a multi-layered shield. Canada is keen to join, with former Defense Minister Bill Blair calling participation a “national interest” move.
Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the Golden Dome is designed to be far more advanced.
It will tackle hypersonic weapons — which travel faster than sound — and fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS), capable of delivering warheads from space.
Trump claimed the system intercepts missiles from anywhere in the world, boasting a near-100% success rate. Defense officials say it will engage in threats at multiple stages, including before launch and mid-flight.
The financials are staggering. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill earmarks $25 billion for the project, but Congress has yet to approve it.
The Congressional Budget Office warns that costs could balloon beyond expectations, particularly for space-based defences.
Some lawmakers question whether the U.S. should prioritise missile defence over nuclear modernisation, which will cost at least $1 trillion by 2034.
The Defense Intelligence Agency paints a grim picture: missile threats are growing in scale and sophistication.
China and Russia are actively developing systems to exploit U.S. defence gaps.
Trump insists the Golden Dome is the answer, calling it “the best system ever built."
Whether it delivers on its promise — or becomes another costly defence experiment — remains to be seen.
