Can Trump’s $100 billion ‘Golden Dome’ shield the US from nuclear and hypersonic missile threats?

Strategic Defense Initiative, was mocked as «Star Wars» and ultimately shelved. Now, under President Donald Trump’s directive, that idea has been reborn as the «Golden Dome.»

Announced in a congressional address, Trump positioned the initiative as a critical step in bolstering national security. “As a first step, I’m asking Congress to fund a state-of-the-art ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence shield to protect our homeland. All made in the USA,” he declared.

Unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, which focuses on short-range threats, the Golden Dome is designed to counter a wide range of missile attacks, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hypersonic weapons. The challenge? The sheer size of the US means covering the entire country is a vastly more complex undertaking.

How Will It Work?

According to a report in Space News, the Golden Dome will rely on space-based sensors, missile interceptors, and advanced laser weapons. General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Space Operations for the US Space Force, highlighted the importance of space-based radar, particularly given the unpredictability of modern missiles. “Our challenge is really long-range weapons… So, if the weapons maneuver around current land-based and sea-based radar systems, our architecture has to be moved to space,” he said.

Existing missile defence systems like THAAD and Patriot batteries provide limited protection, mostly deployed overseas. The Golden Dome, however, aims for a nationwide shield. Phil Jasper, CEO of Raytheon, stressed the need for a multi-layered approach. “Shooting down a UAV is very different from intercepting a hypersonic missile,” he told Fox News Digital.

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Logistical and Financial Hurdles

One of the biggest obstacles