Trump Unveils US$175 Bln "Golden Dome" Missile Shield Project
U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement regarding the Golden Dome missile defense shield in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., (Credit: Reuters)
SACRAMENTO (US), May 21 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- United States (US) President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a US$175 billion missile defence system dubbed the "Golden Dome," describing it as a "Manhattan Project-scale" initiative, Xinhua reported.
US Space Force General Michael Guetlein has been appointed to lead the project.
During the Oval Office announcement, flanked by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Guetlein, Trump revealed that the project would be completed within three years and would protect the entire continental United States, including Canada, from aerial threats.
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"It is a great day for America," Trump declared, seated beside a poster showing the continental US painted gold with artistic depictions of missile interceptions.
"This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defence capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term."
The ambitious system is designed to create a comprehensive network of satellites capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting incoming missiles.
Trump touted the system would be "capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space."
The project represents a substantial evolution from what was initially announced as the "Iron Dome for America" in the administration's first week, before being renamed "Golden Dome" by the Pentagon in February, possibly due to trademark concerns with Israel's existing Iron Dome system.
Guetlein previously served as the vice chief of space operations with the US Space Force and has extensive experience in missile defence and space-based capabilities.
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