In a surprise bid to bolster national security, US President Donald Trump unveiled the ambitious Golden Dome missile defense system on Tuesday. Addressing the Oval Office, Trump said he was confident the system would be “fully operational before the end of my term,” which is in 2029. He pointed to its advanced ability to detect missiles “even if they are fired from space.” But a US official with knowledge of the programme said it is more probable the system will have some initial operational capability by then.
What Is the Golden Dome?
The Golden Dome borrows from Israel’s famous ‘Iron Dome’ system, a tried-and-tested missile defense that intercepts Hamas-launched short-range rockets and missiles. But the American system has much more to contend with. In contrast to Israel, which defends a fairly compact and flat desert land, the US stretches over 400 times larger and more varied territory, making missile defense exponentially more complicated.
Besides, the type of threats is dramatically different. Israel responds to slower, shorter-range rockets, while the US is threatened by Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonic missiles, possibly from rivals such as Russia and China. These missiles are incredibly fast and have long ranges and thus require a defense system based on space technology.
The Technology Behind the Golden Dome
The experts interviewed by NPR say that the Golden Dome would heavily depend on space-based interceptors. The idea proposes a group of satellites in orbit around the planet, able to detect missile launches early during flight and destroy the threats before they reach their targets. The early warning is key to catching high-speed missiles, particularly hypersonic ones.
However, the system faces significant technical challenges. Satellites continuously orbit the Earth, so they often fail to position themselves over the necessary area to intercept a missile launch at the critical moment. To address this, the US would need an extensive network of satellites—reports suggest as many as 16,000—to maintain constant coverage.
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites offer a proof of concept that such an enormous satellite constellation is possible, although it would be expensive. However, the investment in this advanced defence technology can rethink national security.
The Road Ahead
President Trump himself has in the past spoken of the Golden Dome and even issued an executive order to hasten its creation. Experts remain wary of timetables but this system is a giant step forward in terms of missile defence technology. Through the addition of space-based systems, the US is looking to remain ahead of maturing threats and improve its strategic defence posture in a rapidly growing more complex world.
