President Trump on Tuesday announced an initial $25 billion investment to jumpstart the creation of the “Golden Dome,” a sweeping continental missile defense system. The program, which Trump described as a top national priority, will be overseen by Gen. Michael Guetlein, the vice chief of space operations.
Though distinct from Israel’s Iron Dome, the similarly named Golden Dome aims to serve as an expansive shield across the Western Hemisphere. “Golden Dome” is already generating excitement among some defense circles, but has drawn skepticism from military analysts concerned about its feasibility and astronomical cost.
Trump placed the total estimated cost of the project at around $175 billion, adding that the target timeline for completion is three years. “These are early figures,” he acknowledged, but said the initial $25 billion will be written into the broader spending package now moving through Congress.
The system’s development will demand deep cooperation across multiple sectors — including the Pentagon, lawmakers, military personnel, defense contractors, and successive administrations. Trump said the shield could eventually extend beyond U.S. borders: “Canada has expressed interest in being covered by the shield,” he noted.
While defense analysts have raised red flags about the practicality of recreating Israel’s defense system on a much larger scale, especially given the scope and cost, Trump remains confident in the plan’s success. “President Reagan had wanted to build something similar during the Cold War,” Trump said during a meeting in the Oval Office with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding, “but we didn’t have the technology. Now we do.”
The Golden Dome would aim to defend against a broad array of threats — from hypersonic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to space-launched nuclear weapons. At its core would be a network of advanced detection systems and interceptors based in space, designed to neutralize incoming projectiles in real time.
Since Trump signed an executive order in January directing development of the system, top defense firms have been vying to secure a role in the massive project.
Lockheed Martin, for example, has proposed integrating its F-35 fighter jet, Sentinel A4 radar systems, and command-and-control networks into the Golden Dome initiative. “The project will require the best of every technology company,” said Frank St. John, the company’s chief operating officer.
Booz Allen Hamilton introduced a concept called Brilliant Swarms — inspired by the Cold War-era Brilliant Pebbles initiative — which envisions groups of satellites that detect and destroy missiles via high-speed collisions. “The longer you wait to kill an enemy ballistic missile, the harder your problem gets,” said Chris Bogdan, executive vice president at the firm.
Other major players including Anduril Industries, Palantir Technologies, and SpaceX are also reportedly collaborating on technology related to the proposed missile shield, according to Reuters.
{Matzav.com}