Trump unveils final design for $175B Golden Dome missile defense, promising space-based interception capabilities before the end of his term in 2029.
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| Trump selects design for Golden Dome, a massive missile defense initiative targeting threats from China and Russia, to include space-based interceptors and sensors. Image: Collected |
WASHINGTON, USA — May 21, 2025:
President Donald Trump has approved the final design for the ambitious $175 billion "Golden Dome" missile defense system, a massive national security initiative that will integrate space-based technology to counter missile threats from China and Russia. The announcement, made Tuesday from the Oval Office, includes the appointment of General Michael Guetlein—currently vice chief of space operations—as the lead officer overseeing its development.
Trump stated that he expects Golden Dome to be "fully operational before the end of my term" in 2029. He emphasized the system's advanced capabilities, including the ability to detect and intercept missiles launched from Earth or space. However, a senior U.S. official noted that while progress is underway, full operational capacity may only be partially realized by that deadline.
Golden Dome will incorporate a layered defense strategy capable of intercepting threats across four stages: pre-launch, boost phase, midcourse, and terminal phase. The system will combine existing ground-based assets with a new constellation of satellites and, for the first time, space-based interceptors.
The Pentagon has been weighing multiple development paths—categorized as medium, high, and "extra high" cost models—each reflecting different levels of satellite and interceptor deployment. The most expansive version, featuring numerous space-based platforms, could cost over $542 billion over the next two decades, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office report.
Trump has requested an initial $25 billion for Golden Dome in his current tax and defense funding bill, now under review in Congress. He first ordered the program’s development through an executive directive issued during his first week in office.
General Chance Saltzman, head of the U.S. Space Force, described the project as "mission-defining" and highlighted its potential to counteract orbital threats. “These are missions that have never been accomplished by any military space agency,” he told lawmakers.
U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that China and Russia are fielding weapons in space, including satellites capable of disrupting or destroying critical American space infrastructure. Golden Dome seeks to restore strategic dominance by offering proactive and space-based defense capabilities.
Despite the urgency, the program remains conceptual. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told senators that full technical specifications are still being drafted. The Pentagon and U.S. Northern Command are currently developing the Initial Capabilities Document to define the system’s goals and performance metrics.
The U.S. already maintains a suite of missile defense systems, including Patriot missile batteries and early-warning satellites. Many of these will be integrated into Golden Dome’s architecture to maximize coverage and reduce redundancy.
Trump’s direct involvement in shaping the system prior to the formal requirement process is unconventional, but reflects the administration’s prioritization of missile defense amid rising global tensions.
Golden Dome marks a dramatic escalation in U.S. efforts to protect against hypersonic, ballistic, and orbital threats—and a new frontier in the militarization of space.