Washington DC (TDI): US President Donald Trump has unveiled the final design for the highly anticipated “Golden Dome” missile defense system, a comprehensive initiative aimed at defending the United States against next-generation aerial threats, including hypersonic weapons and space-launched attacks.
Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump emphasized that the Golden Dome will be operational by the end of his second term.
“This system will intercept anything—from missiles launched across the world to threats coming from space,” he declared.
Drawing inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome, the Golden Dome will surpass it in both scale and capability.
With an initial budget allocation of $25 billion—part of Trump’s proposed One Big Beautiful Bill—the project is projected to cost significantly more over time, with estimates reaching up to $542 billion over 20 years, especially for its space-based components.
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The Golden Dome will utilize cutting-edge technologies across land, sea, and space, integrating space-based sensors and interceptors under a centralized command system.
Trump announced that Space Force General Michael Guetlein, currently serving as Vice Chief of Space Operations, will oversee the project. This marks a key strategic move to consolidate space defense under a seasoned leadership figure.
The announcement comes amid warnings from the Pentagon that current missile defense systems are outdated and insufficient to counter the rapidly advancing technologies of global adversaries like China and Russia.
A recent Defense Intelligence Agency report highlighted the growing sophistication of missile threats and the urgent need for modernized defense mechanisms.
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Notably, Canada has expressed interest in joining the Golden Dome initiative. During an earlier visit to Washington, former Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair indicated that participation in the system would serve Canada’s national interests, especially in monitoring Arctic threats.
“The Golden Dome will revolutionize our national security,” Trump stated. “There’s never been anything like it. And soon, the United States will be protected by the most advanced missile defense system the world has ever seen.”
The Golden Dome represents a cornerstone of Trump’s renewed national security agenda, reinforcing the United States’ commitment to preemptive defense in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
Areeba Kanwal is a contributor at The Diplomatic Insight and has passion for International Relations and diplomacy.
