Golden Dome: U.S. Plans High-Tech Missile Shield Against Future Threats

Imagine warheads falling from space. Or super-fast missiles hitting U.S. targets. High blasts that light up the sky.

Experts say this could happen if U.S. defences are not improved. Right now, the systems we have may not stop new, high-tech attacks.

A single nuclear blast high above the U.S. could cause an EMP — an electromagnetic pulse. That would wipe out electronics. Planes could crash. Phones, water systems, and medical devices would stop working.

“It would be like going back 1,000 years,” said William Fortschen, a writer and weapons expert.

To stop this, President Trump wants to build a new missile shield. It’s called the Golden Dome.

But the plan is big, costly, and complex. Experts say we need it. But building it won’t be easy.

Why Now?

An order from the White House says missile threats are getting worse. New weapons like hypersonic missiles and space-based bombs could hit the U.S. fast and hard.

Current systems are built to stop older missiles, like the ones from North Korea. But countries like Russia and China now have better weapons. They can reach far and strike fast.

Missile expert Patrycja Bazylczyk says, “The Golden Dome will help us face powerful enemies like Russia and China.”

These new threats move faster and fly lower than old missiles. Some even come from space. Each one is very dangerous.

What Will the Golden Dome Do?

So far, we don’t know many details. On May 20, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it will use sensors and interceptors on land, sea, and in space.

Trump said it could stop missiles from anywhere in the world — even space.

Parts of the program may be based in Florida, Indiana, and Alaska.

General Michael Guetlein, who leads the project, says it will build on current systems. But it will add new layers to stop cruise missiles and other threats. Some will stop attacks before launch.

What We Have Now

Today, the U.S. uses 44 missile interceptors in Alaska and California. These can stop a small attack — like from North Korea. But they can't handle the larger arsenals from Russia or China.

Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, a defence expert, says, “The system we have now was built for small threats. It can’t stop a big attack.”

The U.S. Congress says we would need hundreds or even thousands of space systems to protect the whole country. That would cost a lot.

What About Israel’s Iron Dome?

Trump says Israel’s Iron Dome is a good example. Israel uses it to stop rockets from places like Gaza.

But experts say the Iron Dome stops small, short-range rockets. Israel also has other systems to stop bigger missiles.

Bazylczyk says the U.S. Golden Dome would need to stop both short- and long-range missiles. It would need many tools working together.

One big challenge is building a control system that links all the tools. Right now, no such system exists.

The Cost and Timeline

Trump says it could be done before his term ends. He says it will cost $175 billion, with $25 billion already set aside.

But experts say that’s way too low. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office says space systems alone could cost $542 billion over 20 years.

Pettyjohn says, “This is very complex. Rushing it will cost more. And it may not work well if it’s done too fast.”

Could This Start an Arms Race?

Some people worry it might lead to more weapons worldwide. China says the plan could turn space into a battlefield.

But experts in the U.S. say our enemies are already building more weapons.

Bazylczyk says the Golden Dome could stop them from attacking. “It makes them less sure they could win,” she said. “It helps keep us safe.”

Even if it’s not finished, having some of the system in place could still help.

“I’d sleep better at night,” said Fortschen. “We need this. The Golden Dome is the answer.”