Recently, President Trump of the United States announced the launch of the “Golden Dome” missile defense program, aimed at establishing a multi-layer defense system covering space and ground to counter missile threats from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, among others. This move has greatly unsettled China.
Trump announced the initiation of the “Golden Dome” missile defense system on Tuesday, stating, “I am committed to building an advanced missile defense system to protect our homeland from the threat of foreign missile attacks.”
The Reuters news agency has compiled detailed information about the Golden Dome, including its creative inspiration, operational methods, and why it has caused unease in China.
1. Space Interception:
The core of the Golden Dome plan involves deploying hundreds of satellites equipped with advanced sensors and interceptors that can detect and intercept enemy missiles in the initial phase of ascent (boost phase). During this phase, missile speed is slower, trajectories are predictable, and interception success rates are higher.
2. Ground Defense:
In addition to the space layer, the Golden Dome will integrate existing ground interception systems, such as land-based interceptors deployed in California and Alaska, and potentially add new defense layers to form a multi-layered defense network.
3. Source of Inspiration:
The Golden Dome project is inspired by Israel’s “Iron Dome” system but on a larger scale and technological level. The goal is to establish a global defense network capable of defending against various threats, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and cruise missiles.
US military leaders have repeatedly warned that China and Russia are developing advanced missile technologies that surpass current US defense capabilities. The Golden Dome aims to bridge this gap.
China accused the US on Wednesday of pursuing “absolute security.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the Golden Dome plan is “highly aggressive” and would escalate a space arms race, undermining “security and arms control systems.”
During his speech in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump expressed his anticipation that the system will be fully operational “before the end of my term,” which concludes in 2029. He emphasized that the defense system will have the capability to intercept missiles “even if they are launched from space.”
Both China and Russia have deployed offensive weapons in space, including devices capable of disabling critical US satellites, leaving the US strategically vulnerable to potential attacks.
Trump pointed out, “We will truly finish the work started by President Reagan 40 years ago, completely ending the missile threat to the US homeland.”
The Trump administration has appointed General Michael Guetlein as the Deputy Commander of the US Space Force to lead the Golden Dome project. Several companies participating in the bidding include SpaceX owned by Elon Musk, software company Palantir, drone manufacturer Anduril, as well as traditional defense giants like Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, and RTX Corporation.
L3 Corporation has invested $150 million to build a new facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, specifically for producing hypersonic and ballistic tracking space surveillance satellites. These satellites are a crucial element in enhancing the Pentagon’s space monitoring capabilities, improving detection and tracking of hypersonic weapons, and can be integrated into the Golden Dome defense system in the future.
The Golden Dome project signifies a significant shift in the US global defense strategy, with an expected cost of $175 billion, with an initial investment of $25 billion, as part of a $150 billion defense program.