In a bold move to fortify America's defenses against emerging threats, President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a comprehensive missile defense system dubbed the "Golden Dome." This initiative aims to shield the United States from advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and space-based attacks.BBC

Drawing inspiration from Israel's Iron Dome, which intercepts short-range rockets, the Golden Dome aspires to be a multi-layered defense mechanism. It would integrate land, sea, and space-based sensors and interceptors to detect and neutralize various missile threats. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the system would be capable of intercepting missiles launched from any part of the world, even those deployed from space.BBC

President Trump has projected the completion of this system by the end of his term, with an estimated total cost of $175 billion, including an initial $25 billion investment. However, experts from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate that the space-based components alone could cost approximately $542 billion over two decades.BBC

While the ambition is commendable, several experts have raised concerns about the feasibility of the Golden Dome. Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn from the Center for a New American Security highlighted that existing U.S. missile defense systems are primarily designed to counter threats from nations like North Korea and may not be adequate against the advanced arsenals of Russia and China.BBC

Patrycja Bazylczyk of the Center for Strategic and International Studies pointed out that adversaries are investing in long-range strike capabilities, including hypersonic weapons and fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS), which pose significant challenges to current defense infrastructures.BBC

Integrating various defense systems into a cohesive network would require a sophisticated command and control system, which currently does not exist. The complexity of developing such an integrated system adds to the logistical and financial hurdles.BBC

The introduction of the Golden Dome could potentially trigger an arms race, with adversaries seeking ways to circumvent or overwhelm the new defense system. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed concerns that the plan "heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield."BBC

Despite these concerns, proponents argue that even a partially completed Golden Dome could serve as a deterrent, raising the threshold for potential attacks and contributing to overall national security. William Fortschen, a weapons researcher, emphasized the catastrophic consequences of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack and the necessity of such a defense system to prevent such scenarios.BBC

The Golden Dome represents a significant step in modernizing America's missile defense capabilities. While the vision is ambitious, the challenges—both technical and financial—are substantial. As the project progresses, it will be crucial to address these challenges to ensure the system's effectiveness and sustainability.BBC

For a more detailed analysis, you can read the full article here: BBC News.