Golden dome: Trump's Star Wars-style defence plan

On May 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a massive leap in defence strategy: the Golden Dome Missile Defence Shield.

Transcript

00:00The Golden Dome Missile Defense Shield.

00:02In the campaign, I promised the American people that I would build a cut-in-edge missile defense shield

00:07to protect our homeland from the threat of foreign missile attack.

00:13And that's what we're doing.

00:14A missile defense system that operates from space.

00:17For all you Star Wars fans, U.S. President Donald Trump might just be making your dreams come true.

00:22On May 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his plan to build the Golden Dome Missile Defense Shield.

00:28In simple terms, it's a space-based missile defense system.

00:32A vast network of satellites, likely numbering in the hundreds.

00:36The initial projected cost is $175 billion.

00:39But according to the Congressional Budget Office, the total cost could rise to $831 billion over the next two decades.

00:46The program was first ordered by Trump in January 2025.

00:49But according to him, it should be operational by 2029.

00:53He has appointed U.S. Space Force General Michael Gitlin to lead the project.

00:57Ronald Reagan wanted it many years ago, but they didn't have the technology.

01:01But it's something we're going to have.

01:03We're going to have it at the highest level.

01:04The inspiration for the system comes from Ronald Reagan's Star Wars Initiative and Israel's Iron Dome.

01:09However, this version is far more expansive, combining surveillance satellites

01:13and a dedicated fleet of offensive satellites to neutralize incoming threats.

01:18Potential contractors for this project include L3 Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp.

01:24Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles,

01:29even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space.