Trump’s Gold Dome Anti-Missile System To Cost $175 Billion
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R), May 20, 2025. X/ @nmas
May 21, 2025 Hour: 8:46 am
‘Our enemies, our adversaries, will be paying very close attention to this,’ Defense Secretary Hegseth stated.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the construction of the “Golden Dome,” a missile defense shield intended to protect the country, will cost approximately US$175 billion and is expected to be completed by the end of his term in 2029.
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During a press conference alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump said the budget proposal he will send to Congress includes an initial allocation of US$25 billion to jump-start the project.
“It should be fully operational before my term ends, so we’ll have it ready in about three years. Once built, it will be able to intercept missiles even if they are launched from other parts of the world and from space,” the Republican leader said, adding that the United States will have “the best system ever built.”
“We helped Israel with theirs and had great success. Now we have much more advanced technology, including hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, and advanced cruise missiles,” he added.
During a joint session in Congress in March, Trump urged lawmakers to “fund a next-generation golden dome missile shield to protect the homeland, made in the United States.”
At that time, the Republican politician referred to Israel’s Iron Dome, though the U.S. project is said to be more advanced. The Israeli system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and drones in populated areas with high precision. According to some reports, each intercepted missile costs Israel about US$50,000.
CNN previously reported that the Congressional Budget Office has estimated the United States could spend more than US$500 billion over 20 years to maintain a fully functional “golden dome.”
Trump noted that Canada has asked to join the project. “It makes perfect sense, and it won’t be very difficult to do, but they’ll pay their fair share,” he said about the northern neighbor’s involvement, adding that the financial details of Canada’s participation have yet to be finalized.
“I’ve really been looking forward to this day because it’s critical to the success and even the survival of our country. We live in an evil world. So this greatly contributes to the survival of this great nation,” the Republican president added.
“Our enemies, our adversaries, will be paying very close attention to this, just as they’ve paid attention to President Trump from day one. So this is about defending the homeland, defending the American people. It will benefit my children, my grandchildren, all of us,” Hegseth emphasized.
The Department of Defense later released a statement signed by Hegseth, providing additional details, including that the “golden dome” will incorporate interceptors and space-based sensors.
“While some U.S. space technologies already exist, such as space sensors and air and missile defense systems, all the systems that make up the golden dome architecture will need to be flawlessly integrated. The golden dome will be deployed in phases, prioritizing defense where the threat is greatest,” he said.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
