Trump’s Golden Dome: The $175 Billion Plan to Build America’s Missile Shield in Space
The Golden Dome is a proposed multilayered missile defense shield designed to intercept a wide range of threats from cruise missiles and drones to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonic weapons.
President Donald Trump has unveiled the “Golden Dome,” a sweeping new missile defense initiative aimed at shielding the United States from advanced aerial threats, including hypersonic and space-launched missiles. Announced on May 20, 2025, the project is inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome but is envisioned as a far more expansive, space-based system.
What Is the Golden Dome?
The Golden Dome is a proposed multilayered missile defense shield designed to intercept a wide range of threats from cruise missiles and drones to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonic weapons. Unlike traditional ground-based systems, the Golden Dome will leverage a vast network of satellites and space-based interceptors to detect and neutralize incoming threats, even those launched from space. The system is also intended to integrate with existing missile defense infrastructures, such as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense and Aegis systems, to provide a comprehensive shield over the continental United States.
President Trump has set an ambitious goal for the system to be fully operational by the end of his term in January 2029. However, experts suggest that a phased implementation over two decades is more realistic, given the technical complexities involved.
General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations in the U.S. Space Force, has been appointed to lead the Golden Dome project. The initial funding includes a $25 billion allocation in the upcoming federal budget, with total projected costs potentially reaching $175 billion. Independent estimates by the Congressional Budget Office suggest that the program could cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over two decades.
The Golden Dome aims to address emerging threats from nations like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. By creating a space-based defense system, the U.S. seeks to enhance its ability to detect and intercept missiles during their boost phase, thereby improving response times and interception success rates.
Several private defense contractors are expected to play significant roles in developing the Golden Dome, including SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Lockheed Martin, and RTX. The potential involvement of Elon Musk’s SpaceX has raised concerns among Democratic lawmakers about conflicts of interest, prompting calls for a Pentagon investigation.
While Canada has expressed interest in participating in the Golden Dome project, President Trump stated that it would need to contribute financially to be included in the defense shield. Discussions between U.S. and Canadian officials are ongoing, focusing on strengthening NORAD and related initiatives.
The Golden Dome represents a bold and ambitious effort to modernize America’s missile defense capabilities in response to evolving global threats. While the project’s success hinges on overcoming significant technical, financial, and political challenges, its development marks a significant shift in U.S. defense strategy.
This article is authored by Kanishka Yadav as part of internship program with Deccan Chronicle.