In 2025, the American president announced his intention to develop the “Golden Shield,” an anti-missile defense system based on the Israeli Iron Dome model, and to have it operational before the end of his term in 2029. He estimated the total cost to be “approximately 175 billion dollars once completed.” However, many experts at that time criticized the project as unrealistic and redundant given the existing missile defense systems already in place in the United States.
In a report published on Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), an independent parliamentary agency, it was estimated that a national anti-missile defense system with capabilities similar to those demanded by Donald Trump would cost “around 1.2 trillion dollars to develop, deploy, and operate over 20 years.” According to the CBO, the space component of the system would represent nearly 60% of the total costs.
China and Russia Oppose the Project
Similar to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or “Star Wars” launched by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, the “Golden Shield,” or “Golden Dome,” aims to position “interceptor satellites” in space. The goal is to rapidly destroy any intercontinental ballistic missile heading towards American territory. China and Russia strongly opposed Donald Trump’s project last year.
