Latest news with #ICBMs
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
‘US plans risk war in space'
PYONGYANG slammed US President Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile shield plan as a 'very dangerous' threat that could spark nuclear war in space, state media said. Trump announced new details and initial funding for the missile shield system last week, calling it 'very important for the success and even survival of our country'. The initiative faces significant technical and political challenges, according to analysts, and could come at a hefty price tag. In a statement shared by the Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang's foreign ministry slammed the 'very dangerous 'threatening initiative' aimed at threatening the strategic security of the nuclear weapons states'. The United States is 'hell-bent on the moves to militarise outer space,' the foreign ministry said. 'The US plan for building a new missile defence system is the root cause of sparking off global nuclear and space arms race by stimulating the security concerns of nuclear weapons states and turning ... outer space into a potential nuclear war field,' it added. Washington – Seoul's key security ally – has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine, in the region to deter the North. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion. 'The North's strong reaction suggests it views the Golden Dome as capable of significantly weakening the effectiveness of its nuclear arsenal, including its ICBMs,' Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said. 'If the US completes its new missile defence programme, the North will be forced to develop alternative means to counter or penetrate it,' he added. China has also expressed strong concerns about Washington's Golden Dome plan, accusing the United States of undermining global stability. Beijing is closing the gap with Washington when it comes to ballistic and hypersonic missile technology, while Moscow is modernising its intercontinental-range missile systems and developing advanced precision strike missiles, according to a 2022 Pentagon review. — AFP
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
China, North Korea, and Russia's Response to Trump's ‘Golden Dome' Proposal
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, supervises a drill of long-range artillery and missile systems at North Korea's eastern coast on May 8, 2025. Credit - Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP President Donald Trump has promised a 'Golden Dome' that will protect the United States. But America's rivals see the announcement last week of the plans for a new space-based missile defense system as provocation. Trump's proposal, which as proposed remains years away from being operational, has many uncertainties, not least cost. The 'Golden Dome,' modeled after Israel's 'Iron Dome,' would consist of a constellation of interceptors, satellites, and sensors 'capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world,' according to the President. But the biggest question is whether it would even make the U.S. and world safer. Critics have raised concerns that the effort to create such a shield would raise suspicions and exacerbate a global arms race as well as accelerate the weaponization of space. Here's how some other nations have already responded to the 'Golden Dome.' North Korean state media on May 27 reported that the foreign ministry condemned Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome,' saying it was an 'outer space nuclear war scenario supporting the U.S. strategy for uni-polar domination,' and added that it was a 'typical product of 'America first', the height of self-righteousness, arrogance, high-handed and arbitrary practice.' The nuclear-armed state boasts one of the world's largest militaries with some 1.3 million active-duty personnel. It is known for regularly launching missile tests—47 in 2024 alone—including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that theoretically can reach the U.S. mainland. North Korea also has an estimated 70-90 nuclear weapons, according to the D.C.-based Arms Control Association, and the U.S. Defense officials have said it is continuing to expand its arsenal. According to the state media report on the foreign ministry's memorandum about the Golden Dome, the U.S. is using the pretense of a defensive project to 'attempt to militarize outer space' and 'preemptively attain military superiority in an all-round way.' Earlier this month, before Trump announced the Golden Dome project from the Oval Office but after having discussed the idea for many months, Russia issued a joint statement with China in which they called the planned program 'deeply destabilizing in nature.' In the statement, the two countries said the Golden Dome was 'a complete and ultimate rejection to recognize the existence of the inseparable interrelationship between strategic offensive arms and strategic defensive arms.' It also opposed how countries are using space for armed conflict, saying that it will jointly counter security policies and activities aimed at using outer space as a 'warfighting domain.' But after Trump spoke further about his plans for the Golden Dome at the Oval Office last week, the Kremlin offered a more muted response. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told local media that the project was 'a sovereign matter' for the U.S., adding: 'If the United States believes there is a missile threat, then of course it will develop a missile defense system.' Peskov also said Russia will not yet assess the threat to nuclear parity with the U.S. as details of the project remained scant. Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that while Moscow needs to take the Golden Dome project seriously, 'Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that our strategic systems are equipped so that we can reliably break through any air defense systems, including layered ones.' Many of Russia's space programs are limited by international sanctions, but its missile arsenal still poses a notable air attack threat. Information from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency shows that by 2035 Russia may have 1,000 boosted hypersonic weapons, some 5,000 land attack cruise missiles, and around 400 ICBMs. A congressional report in May also outlined the ability of Russia's missiles to carry nuclear warheads and how it has used the threat of a nuclear attack to prevent any sort of international intervention in its occupation of Ukraine. After issuing the joint statement with Russia, China continued to criticize the U.S. over its Golden Dome plan, urging Trump to trash it. 'The project will heighten the risk of turning the space into a war zone and creating a space arms race, and shake the international security and arms control system,' Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular press briefing on May 21. The Pentagon views China as a strong missile threat that's undergone considerable development over the past two decades. According to a 2024 report, China had 'the world's leading hypersonic missile arsenal,' possessing more than 600 nuclear warheads and some 400 ICBMs. According to the Defense Department's 2022 Missile Defense Review, China 'utilizes Russian-developed air and missile defense systems while also pursuing indigenous capabilities that are growing in sophistication.' Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
China, North Korea, and Russia's Response to Trump's ‘Golden Dome' Proposal
President Donald Trump has promised a 'Golden Dome' that will protect the United States. But America's rivals see the announcement last week of the plans for a new space-based missile defense system as provocation. Trump's proposal, which as proposed remains years away from being operational, has many uncertainties, not least cost. The 'Golden Dome,' modeled after Israel's 'Iron Dome,' would consist of a constellation of interceptors, satellites, and sensors 'capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world,' according to the President. But the biggest question is whether it would even make the U.S. and world safer. Critics have raised concerns that the effort to create such a shield would raise suspicions and exacerbate a global arms race as well as accelerate the weaponization of space. Here's how some other nations have already responded to the 'Golden Dome.' North Korea North Korean state media on May 27 reported that the foreign ministry condemned Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome,' saying it was an 'outer space nuclear war scenario supporting the U.S. strategy for uni-polar domination,' and added that it was a 'typical product of 'America first', the height of self-righteousness, arrogance, high-handed and arbitrary practice.' The nuclear-armed state boasts one of the world's largest militaries with some 1.3 million active-duty personnel. It is known for regularly launching missile tests—47 in 2024 alone—including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that theoretically can reach the U.S. mainland. North Korea also has an estimated 70-90 nuclear weapons, according to the D.C.-based Arms Control Association, and the U.S. Defense officials have said it is continuing to expand its arsenal. According to the state media report on the foreign ministry's memorandum about the Golden Dome, the U.S. is using the pretense of a defensive project to 'attempt to militarize outer space' and 'preemptively attain military superiority in an all-round way.' Russia Earlier this month, before Trump announced the Golden Dome project from the Oval Office but after having discussed the idea for many months, Russia issued a joint statement with China in which they called the planned program 'deeply destabilizing in nature.' In the statement, the two countries said the Golden Dome was 'a complete and ultimate rejection to recognize the existence of the inseparable interrelationship between strategic offensive arms and strategic defensive arms.' It also opposed how countries are using space for armed conflict, saying that it will jointly counter security policies and activities aimed at using outer space as a 'warfighting domain.' But after Trump spoke further about his plans for the Golden Dome at the Oval Office last week, the Kremlin offered a more muted response. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told local media that the project was 'a sovereign matter' for the U.S., adding: 'If the United States believes there is a missile threat, then of course it will develop a missile defense system.' Peskov also said Russia will not yet assess the threat to nuclear parity with the U.S. as details of the project remained scant. Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that while Moscow needs to take the Golden Dome project seriously, 'Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that our strategic systems are equipped so that we can reliably break through any air defense systems, including layered ones.' Many of Russia's space programs are limited by international sanctions, but its missile arsenal still poses a notable air attack threat. Information from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency shows that by 2035 Russia may have 1,000 boosted hypersonic weapons, some 5,000 land attack cruise missiles, and around 400 ICBMs. A congressional report in May also outlined the ability of Russia's missiles to carry nuclear warheads and how it has used the threat of a nuclear attack to prevent any sort of international intervention in its occupation of Ukraine. China After issuing the joint statement with Russia, China continued to criticize the U.S. over its Golden Dome plan, urging Trump to trash it. 'The project will heighten the risk of turning the space into a war zone and creating a space arms race, and shake the international security and arms control system,' Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular press briefing on May 21. The Pentagon views China as a strong missile threat that's undergone considerable development over the past two decades. According to a 2024 report, China had 'the world's leading hypersonic missile arsenal,' possessing more than 600 nuclear warheads and some 400 ICBMs. According to the Defense Department's 2022 Missile Defense Review, China 'utilizes Russian-developed air and missile defense systems while also pursuing indigenous capabilities that are growing in sophistication.'
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Golden Dome Price Catalyst Adds Impetus for Palantir Technologies Stock (PLTR)
My enthusiasm for Palantir (PLTR) has recently been refreshed, as more information about its role in the U.S. Golden Dome—an ambitious missile-defense technology pioneered by President Donald Trump—becomes public. Along with Elon Musk's SpaceX and a new AI defense firm called Anduril Industries, Palantir is prepared to help transform America's traditional defense model into an AI-based modern warfare arsenal. Confident Investing Starts Here: If successful with projects like the Golden Dome, Palantir will not only revolutionize the defense sector but potentially radically change the perception of AI in national security, which makes PLTR stock an exciting long-term investment for fearless, growth-oriented investors. America's Next-Generation Missile Shield The Golden Dome will be the most advanced and complete missile defense system in history. Based on a concept similar to the Israeli Iron Dome, it can intercept advanced missile attacks, including hypersonic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), with high precision. Initial funding is pegged at $25 billion, currently being processed through Congress. However, that's part of a larger plan, based on $175 billion over 10 years. If funding proceeds, the Golden Dome will rely on a sophisticated satellite network of 400 to 1,000 satellites provided by SpaceX, combined with autonomous drones and sensors from Anduril. Palantir's involvement in this initiative is particularly noteworthy. Its Gotham platform will function as the central digital infrastructure powering the Golden Dome, integrating satellite and sensor data from multiple technology partners to enable rapid analysis and real-time decision-making. The Department of Defense has emphasized the importance of seamless data integration—a capability in which Palantir has a proven track record, notably through its work on the Army's Maven AI project. By effectively consolidating diverse and sensitive data streams, Palantir has positioned itself well ahead of traditional defense contractors. In short, Palantir is a disruptive force, often a hallmark of companies with strong long-term return potential. The financial implications of even a minor share in a program of this size are massive. If Palantir can gain just 1-5% of the proposed $175 billion program, that's between $1.75 billion and $8.75 billion in revenue creation. Considering Palantir's current FY2025 revenue guidance of around $3.9 billion, the potential contribution from the Golden Dome could be priceless. Moreover, the subscription-based model proposed by the Golden Dome contractors represents a significant shift from the traditional defense procurement approach to a recurring revenue structure. This transition supports higher margins over time through long-term software reuse. It's an innovative and economically sound strategy that aligns defense spending with the modern threats' evolving and fast-paced nature. While some Pentagon officials have voiced concerns about potential long-term vendor lock-in, Palantir's model's operational efficiencies and enhanced capabilities present a compelling case. Additionally, the model contributes to long-term revenue stability for contractors, which can have broader positive implications for the U.S. macroeconomy. Lack of Cooling for Palantir's Hot Valuation Many find the current equity valuations of Palantir excessive. The stock is now trading at ~200x forward earnings. For the record, traditional defense stocks are much cheaper at 15 to 20x forward earnings, while newer, ultra-growth software firms are commonly between 50 and 100x earnings. While the company is expensive based on traditional metrics, Palantir's impressive growth in both Government and Commercial segments, especially its GAAP profitability as of Q3 2023, is a reasonable justification for that premium. If Palantir executes on the Golden Dome successfully, then the company could potentially grow into its present valuation very quickly. However, investing in Palantir often carries a level of harsh volatility. One of the key near-term catalysts will be whether Congress signs off on the first $25 billion tranche, and assuming the answer is yes, there could be positive momentum from that. But if the funding is delayed—or worse, disrupted—that will probably create a modest sentiment roadblock. Is Palantir Technologies a Buy, Hold, or Sell? Palantir has a consensus Hold rating on Wall Street based on three Buys, eleven Holds, and four Sells. The average PLTR price target is $100.13, indicating a circa 19% downside over the next 12 months. However, I consider this overly pessimistic and undervalues the strong sentiment and long-term macro tailwinds Palantir engenders. Some caution is warranted, which is why I have positioned the stock at about 2% in my portfolio, but upside remains both likely and secure. PLTR's Long-Term Ambition Stays Intact Looking well into the future, Palantir's vision echoes that of early platform pioneers like Salesforce (CRM), which became indispensable to business operations. By 2030, I anticipate Palantir evolving into an essential AI utility for the U.S. government and allied defense networks, much like electricity is today. The Golden Dome initiative represents a critical milestone in realizing this vision. Should the Golden Dome missile defense platform set the standard for future international AI defense systems, Palantir is poised to become the default provider. Even competitors will likely depend on some component of Palantir's technology. Overall, Palantir represents a unique investment opportunity at the intersection of expansive AI growth, robust government support, and recurring defense-sector revenues. The Golden Dome project marks a transformative shift in defense contracting, lending significant credibility to Palantir's long-term prospects. While the current valuation appears high, the macro-driven upside potential positions Palantir as a compelling candidate for a long-term investment combining defense and AI. I remain strongly bullish, actively buying on dips and fully committed to the Western-alliance defense-AI thesis that Palantir is at the forefront of.
News18
7 days ago
- Business
- News18
China Projected To Have 1,000 Nukes, Viewed As 'Primary Adversary' By India: US Report
Last Updated: According to the Defence Intelligence Agency, India views China as a "primary adversary" and its defence priorities focus on countering China and enhancing its own power. China is rapidly advancing its military modernisation and developing capabilities across all warfare domains that could enable it to seize Taiwan by force, and is expected to reach at least 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, according to a report by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). As per the report, China maintains its strategic objectives to be the pre-eminent power in East Asia, challenge the United States for global leadership, unify Taiwan with mainland China, advance the development and resiliency of China's economy, and become technologically self-sufficient by mid-century. India views China as its 'primary adversary" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's defence priorities are focusing on global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Delhi's military power. According to the report, China is likely to continue multidomain pressure campaigns against Taiwan, the Philippines and others who resist Beijing's territorial claims and will keep an eye on the United States and prepare measures to deter, defeat and retaliate against any US moves that it perceives as intending to disrupt China's diplomatic, economic and security objectives. India-China Relations The US DIA report says India views China as its 'primary adversary" and is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing to counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role. India and China reached an agreement last year to disengage along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. 'The disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from a 2020 incident when troops on both sides were killed in a clash along the Line of Actual Control," it said. While India has reduced procurement of Russian-origin military equipment, it still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain and sustain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and fighter aircraft that help its military to counter threats from China and Pakistan. China's Nuclear Programmes China announced a nominal 5.2% annual military budget increase to $247 billion in 2025. However, China's actual defence spending is significantly higher, following the 2024 defence spending of an estimated $304-$377 billion. China's nuclear warhead stockpile probably has surpassed 600 operational nuclear warheads. The DIA estimated that China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, and the country will continue growing its force until at least 2035. 'This supports the PLA's objective to achieve a more diverse nuclear force, comprising systems including low-yield precision strike missiles and ICBMs with multi-megaton yields, to provide a broader range of nuclear response options," it said. China's approach to using nuclear force is based on the Army's 'deterrence" of an enemy first strike and 'counterstrike" against an adversary's military capability, population, and economy when deterrence fails. Its rapid modernisation suggest that it seeks the ability to inflict far greater levels of overwhelming damage. China's Growing Pressure On Taiwan China is likely to continue its campaign of diplomatic, information, military, and economic pressure on Taiwan to advance its long-term objective of unification with Taiwan, deter any move by Taiwan toward independence, and test the United States' commitment to Taiwan's defence, according to the US agency. The Chinese military has increased military pressure on Taiwan since last year, following the election of President Lai Ching-te. It possesses a variety of military options to coerce Taiwan, including increase the frequency and scope of China's military presence operations, air and maritime blockades. China insists democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has increased the deployment of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan in recent years to press its claim of sovereignty, which Taipei rejects. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
