President Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 20th, formally announced plans to develop the “Golden Dome,” a proposed $175 billion space-based missile defense system. Designed to intercept hypersonic and ballistic missiles, the system will feature satellite-enabled interceptors and space-based sensors, with an initial completion goal of three years, aligning with the end of Trump’s current term.
“This is very important for the survival of our country,” Trump said during a White House briefing, emphasizing the system’s capability to defend against long-range and space-launched threats. General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations in the U.S. Space Force has been appointed to lead the project. According to Trump, the initiative will draw on components from existing U.S. defense platforms and seeks to complete what Ronald Reagan envisioned with the Strategic Defense Initiative in the 1980s. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is expected to play a central coordinating role in implementation.
The Golden Dome is significantly broader in scope than Israel’s Iron Dome, which was cited as partial inspiration. While Israel’s system defends small geographic areas from short-range attacks, the U.S. version aims to protect the entire country, including advanced threats such as fractional orbital bombardment systems. The Defense Intelligence Agency has warned that adversaries like China and Russia are rapidly advancing in missile and space-based weapons technologies.
The international response was swift. China condemned the plan, labeling it as provocative and accusing the U.S. of “fueling an arms race” and “weaponizing space.” Russia acknowledged the U.S. decision as sovereign but raised concerns about global stability. Canada confirmed ongoing discussions with the U.S. defense officials about potential participation, citing its alignment with the broader NORAD modernization.
Defense analysts have noted that technical, fiscal, and logistical challenges may delay the project beyond Trump’s stated timeline. Trump stated that the initial $25 billion in funding is part of his proposed budget currently before Congress. Critics from both major parties have questioned whether the funding target is feasible given existing defense budget constraints. Nonetheless, Trump asserted, “We’ll have it done in three years.”
The project marks a high-profile return to strategic missile defense as a national priority, with far-reaching implications for arms control, global diplomacy, and military readiness. Pentagon planners have begun outlining phased development stages, but experts caution that full implementation could take a decade or more, depending on sustained funding and technological progress.
