Trump unveils plans for ‘Golden Dome’ defence syste
The US has selected a design for the futuristic “Golden Dome” missile defence system.
US President Donald Trump, added that it will be operational by the end of his time in office.
Just days after returning to the White House in January, Trump unveiled his intentions for the system, aimed at countering “next-generation” aerial threats to the US, including ballistic and cruise missiles.
An initial sum of $25bn (£18.7bn) has been earmarked in a new budget bill – although the government has estimated it could end up costing 20 times that over decades.
There are also doubts about whether the US will be able to deliver a defence system for such a huge land mass.
Officials warn that existing systems have not kept pace with increasingly sophisticated weapons possessed by potential adversaries.
A briefing document recently released by the Defense Intelligence Agency noted that missile threats “will expand in scale and sophistication”, with China and Russia actively designing systems “to exploit gaps” in US defences.
Seven days into his second administration, Trump ordered the defence department to submit plans for a system that would deter and defend against aerial attacks, which the White House said remain “the most catastrophic threat” facing the US.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said the system would consist of “next-generation” technologies across land, sea and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors. He added that Canada had asked to be a part of the system.
