“Go fast, think big!” The Pentagon -printed slide motto to 3,000 defense contractors in Huntsville, Alabama, USA, summarizes the ambition of the so -called “golden dome”, antimyseal defense system that President Donald Trump wants to put in operation by 2028.
The agency Reuters It revealed on Tuesday (12) that the project, estimated at US $ 175 billion, foresees four layers of protection – one based on space, with satellites for tracking and interception of missiles, and three on land, composed of interceptor batteries, advanced radars and laser systems. The plan also includes the installation of 11 short-range batteries at different parts of the American territory, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as a new field of launch in the mid-west.
Inspired by Israel’s “iron dome”, but on a much larger scale, the system aims to neutralize threats still in the so -called “impulse phase” – the early stage of a missile flight, when its trajectory is more predictable and the most viable interception.
The project foresees that the so -called “top layer” of the “golden downs” is composed of NGI interceptors (Next Generation Interceptor), weapons of state -of -the -art enemy missiles at high altitude and long distance, and by the Thaad (high altitude terminal defense), which acts by destroying ballistic missiles outside or near the atmosphere entrance. This layer will act as the farthest line of protection, intercepting threats still in the final part of the space trajectory or just before reentry.
The “lower layer” will bring together advanced radars and defense systems already in use, such as Patriot missiles, aimed at intercepting short and medium range missiles, as well as new launchers designed to fire both current interceptors and future models. This part of the system will act as the last barrier, protecting strategic areas and population centers if hostile missiles exceed long -range defenses.
So far, the American Congress, controlled by Republicans, has allocated $ 25 billion for the development of the “gold dome” in the July approved budget package, and another US $ 45.3 billion are provided for in the 2026 presidential budget.
The Michael Guetlein space force general, appointed to lead the project, now has 30 days to form the team responsible for the development of the dome, 60 days to present the initial project and 120 days to deliver a full implementation plan.
For Trump, the “golden dome” is an essential step in ensuring that the United States has an unique “unprecedented” antimysis shield, capable of protecting the nation from external threats with incomparable speed and accuracy.
