The Golden Dome is a proposed US missile defence system designed to intercept both conventional and nuclear missiles through the use of satellites and space-based weapons. Announced by Donald Trump in January and formally unveiled in May 2025, this ambitious initiative carries a hefty price tag of $175 billion.
The primary objective of the Golden Dome plan is to defend the United States and its allies from increasing missile threats posed by nations such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. This initiative signifies a broader transition towards military infrastructure based in space.
The Golden Dome system encompasses a network of satellites alongside potentially experimental technologies aimed at intercepting threats originating from space. Its design bears similarities to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) conceived during the 1980s.
Responses to the Golden Dome plan from Russia and China have been notably critical. Russia has cautioned that this initiative heightens the risk of militarisation in outer space, potentially igniting a new arms race. Meanwhile, China has expressed that the plan threatens global stability, urging the US to halt its development due to “serious concerns.”
The Golden Dome initiative is part of a broader shift in US defence policy, aligning with earlier efforts to achieve dominance in space. While Trump emphasized the necessity of space-based defence, President Biden has focused on addressing terrestrial threats through similar means.
Several concerns have been voiced regarding the Golden Dome, including:
If implemented successfully, the Golden Dome could offer significant strategic advantages, including early warning capabilities, rapid interception, and enhanced global missile defence, especially against difficult-to-detect hypersonic and cruise missiles.
Several US firms, including SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril, are expected to benefit from this initiative due to their existing contracts and technologies that align with US defence objectives.
The Golden Dome proposal has sparked political division. While it garners support from defence contractors and Republican leaders, there remains considerable opposition in Congress concerning its costs, risks, and implications for arms control.
Many view the Golden Dome as a contemporary iteration of the Reagan-era “Star Wars” programme, incorporating modern technologies such as AI, drones, and satellite constellations.
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