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Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Golden Dome missile defence system — A must know for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Golden Dome. (Relevance: Various air defence systems, missiles, fighter jets, and aircraft types are some of the important topics of defence technology that have been asked by UPSC in prelims. In 2018, a question was asked on Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD). As in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, air defence systems have been in the news; it becomes important to know about the Golden Dome and Iron Dome. US President Donald Trump has offered the 'Golden Dome' missile defence system for free to Canada, which had shown interest after the Republican leader announced it but added a rider that Ottawa can have it without paying any charge 'if it becomes part of the US' 51st State'. Notably, on May 20, US President Donald Trump said he has shortlisted a design for the 'Golden Dome' missile defence shield and made General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force in charge of the project. In this context, let's know about Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome' and what it is inspired by. 1. First floated by Trump this January, the Golden Dome is inspired by Israel's much lauded Iron Dome system — a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system. But it is far more ambitious in scale and scope, and seeks to integrate 'next-generation' technologies across land, sea, and even space. 2. Trump said that the system will comprise, among other things, space-based sensors and interceptors. If this were to be true, this would make the Golden Dome the very first truly space-based weapon system. 3. As of right now, the use of space technology in defence has largely been restricted to reconnaissance. Satellites provide crucial targeting and other data for Earth-based weapon systems such as long-range missiles, guided munitions, etc. 4. The proposed Golden Dome goes one step further, with the introduction of interceptors to be launched from space. Exactly how they will work is still unclear. But according to the initial plans, the system will comprise thousands of small satellites orbiting Earth, which will intercept an enemy missile mere moments after it is launched, NPR reported. 5. Trump said the defense shield would cost some $175 billion, and will be operational by January 2029, when his term ends. But industry experts are skeptical of both this timeline and estimated cost, Reuters reported. 6. Technologically speaking, the idea behind Golden Dome is not far-fetched. But it is untested, and at the moment, more of a 'concept'. 'Right now, Golden Dome is, it's really an idea,' one source had told CNN in March. This also makes projecting timelines and costs very difficult, the article added. 1. Iron Dome is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralise any rockets or missiles aimed at Israeli targets. It is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. 2. The genesis of the Iron Dome goes back to the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war, when the Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into Israel. The following year, Israel announced that its state-run Rafael Advance Systems would come up with a new air defence system to protect its cities and people. It was developed with Israel Aerospace Industries. 3. Notably, the idea behind Trump's proposed Golden Dome is inspired by Israel's much lauded Iron Dome system. But the Iron Dome's capabilities pale in comparison to what Trump wants with the Golden Dome. 📌 The Iron Dome does not rely on satellites for any aspect of its functionality, even tracking. It primarily relies on radars to identify and track enemy targets. Although Trump's Golden Dome will likely comprise radar and other ground-based targeting systems as well, its main selling point, thus far, is the deployment of space-based systems. 📌Israel is nearly 400 times smaller than the US, and consists of mostly flat desert terrain, which makes short-range interceptors ideal and cost-efficient for air defence. Moreover, its primary threats come from non-conventional actors like Hezbollah and Hamas. The US requires a far more expansive air defence system. Most notably, the US must be able to defend against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), technology which both China and Russia — Washington's two main geopolitical rivals — possess. ICBMs can be launched from tens of thousands of kilometres away, and travel to space as a part of their flight trajectory. Tracking ICBMs necessitates the use of satellites. And while they can be neutralised using ground-based interceptors, space-based weapons have long been thought to be more effective for this task given that they re-enter Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. 1. The United Nations' Outer Space Treaty is an international agreement binding member states to only use outer space for peaceful purposes. It spells out the principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies. 2. The treaty came into force in October, 1967, during the peak of the Cold War, after being ratified by Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It lays down the following governing principles: 📌 The exploration and use of outer space will be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and will be the province of all mankind. 📌 Outer space will be free for exploration and use by all states. 📌 Outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty. 📌 States will not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner. 📌 The Moon and other celestial bodies will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. 📌 Astronauts will be regarded as the envoys of mankind. 📌 States will be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities. 📌 States will be liable for damage caused by their space objects. 📌 States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies. 1. The Artemis Accords, launched by NASA and the US Department of State in 2020, have 53 signatories, including India. 2. It implements fundamental commitments from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and emphasises commitment to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, and best practices for responsible behaviour, such as the public distribution of scientific data. 3. The accords are a series of non-binding agreements that establish principles to be respected in outer space. With reference to the Outer Space Treaty, consider the following statements: 1. It entered into force during the peak of World War II and provides the basic framework on international space law that remains in place to date. 2. As per one of the Articles of the treaty the activities of non-governmental entities in outer space shall require authorisation and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Sources: What we know about Trump's 'Golden Dome', Trump offers Golden Dome missile shield to Canada 'for free', but 'only if it joins US as 51st state', What is the Outer Space Treaty and why the US and Russia are at odds over it? ) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
US ‘moves advanced missile system to Israel' as Iran war fears grow
America is understood to have delivered an advanced missile defence system to Israel ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu 's visit to Washington to discuss attacking Iran. Flight-tracking websites showed a C-5M Super Galaxy, the US's largest transport aircraft and capable of carrying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system, land at Nevatim airbase in southern Israel on Saturday and wait about eight hours before leaving. US media reported last month that defence officials had approved moving the system to the Middle East. If confirmed, it would mark the second Thaad system sent to Israel by America, the first having been put in place last year. It comes amid a rush of US military assets to the Middle East amid hostile rhetoric on Tehran from the White House. One carrier strike group is already operating in the region, while another is en route from Asia. A number of B-2 Spirit bombers, which can be armed with nuclear weapons, have also been sent to the Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia, which is in range of Iran. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is Israel's number one strategic priority, as well as being a key foreign policy aim for the Trump administration. Last week, Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran and impose secondary tariffs if Tehran did not make an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme. Iran said on Sunday that talks would be 'meaningless' if Mr Trump continued to threaten them. The theocracy, which claims its nuclear programme is for non-military use, is believed to have increased enrichment of uranium to 60 per cent purity, the only country in the world without a nuclear weapon to have done so. Behind the scenes in Israel there is concern among security officials of a deal that looks significant but does not, in reality, prevent Iran from obtaining a bomb – a so-called Singapore scenario, a reference to Mr Trump's high-profile, first-term summit with Kim Jong-un, after which North Korea retained its nuclear bombs. Israeli chiefs are said to be wary of allowing Iran to build up its capability while the US issues threats but takes no action. Mr Trump campaigned on a platform of ending wars, rather than starting them, and commentators believe his powerful vice-president, JD Vance, is instinctively opposed to striking Iran, as evidenced by the recent leaked Telegram messages in relation to strikes on the Houthis. Meanwhile, it has been reported for months now that Israeli military chiefs believe they have the capability to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities and deal a devastating blow to its stockpiles. However, in practice, Israel would need a green light from Washington. Such an attack, even if conducted unilaterally, would require coordination with the US. It would also need special US bunker-busting bombs that Washington has never before given to Israel, and the potential use of American refuelling aircraft. The Jewish state would also want US help to fend off retaliatory Iranian missile and drone barrages on Israeli cities and infrastructure. Thaad batteries integrate well into Israel's already state-of-the-art missile defence systems and there are believed to be about 100 US troops in Israel to operate them. The system comprises six truck-mounted launchers, with eight interceptors on each launcher. It costs more than $1 billion per unit, can intercept targets up to 124 miles away and has had a near-perfect success rate during trials. However, for a massive Iranian bombardment of the type experienced twice last year, Israel would ideally require US help in the form of intelligence, radar, fighter jets and naval surface-to-air missiles. Finally, the real-terms goal of a preemptive strike on Iran would be to drive it to accept a strict regime of weapons inspections, a deal that would require US involvement. Mr Netanyahu's hastily arranged visit to Washington on Monday is ostensibly to discuss US trade tariffs on Israel – the White House imposed 17 per cent, despite a last-minute Israeli scramble to remove import duties on American goods – and the war in Gaza and return of the hostages. However, Mr Netanyahu's office said the 'Iranian threat' was also on the agenda. A press conference in the East Wing of the White House will follow the talks. The last time the two men met in Washington, Mr Trump stunned the world – and, apparently, Mr Netanyahu – by revealing his vision of a ' Middle East Riviera ' for Gaza. On Monday, following the signing of a France-Egypt strategic partnership, Emmanuel Macron repeated France's opposition to any displacement of the Palestinians in Gaza, or annexation of the West Bank. He also reiterated his concerns over Iran's nuclear programme. 'Negotiations would be meaningless' Dr Raz Zimmt, an Iran expert, told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that Iran believes it can achieve an agreement 'between the current situation and the previous nuclear agreement ' – which Mr Trump scrapped because he said it was too soft. The academic said: 'A clear red line is dismantling infrastructure, and I anticipate that if [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei comes to face a choice between a military attack and dismantling the nuclear infrastructure – he will prefer a military attack.' Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, said on Sunday that 'direct negotiations would be meaningless with a party that constantly threatens to resort to force in violation of the UN Charter and that expresses contradictory positions from its various officials'. 'We remain committed to diplomacy and are ready to try the path of indirect negotiations,' Araghchi added. 'Iran keeps itself prepared for all possible or probable events, and just as it is serious in diplomacy and negotiations, it will also be decisive and serious in defending its national interests and sovereignty.'
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US ‘moves advanced missile system to Israel' as Iran war fears grow
America is understood to have delivered an advanced missile defence system to Israel ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington to discuss attacking Iran. Flight-tracking websites showed a C-5M Super Galaxy, the US's largest transport aircraft and capable of carrying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system, land at Nevatim airbase in southern Israel on Saturday and wait about eight hours before leaving. US media reported last month that defence officials had approved moving the system to the Middle East. If confirmed, it would mark the second Thaad system sent to Israel by America, the first having been put in place last year. It comes amid a rush of US military assets to the Middle East amid hostile rhetoric on Tehran from the White House. One carrier strike group is already operating in the region, while another is en route from Asia. A number of B-2 Spirit bombers, which can be armed with nuclear weapons, have also been sent to the Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia, which is in range of Iran. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is Israel's number one strategic priority, as well as being a key foreign policy aim for the Trump administration. Last week, Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran and impose secondary tariffs if Tehran did not make an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme. Iran said on Sunday that talks would be 'meaningless' if Mr Trump continued to threaten them. The theocracy, which claims its nuclear programme is for non-military use, is believed to have increased enrichment of uranium to 60 per cent purity, the only country in the world without a nuclear weapon to have done so. Behind the scenes in Israel there is concern among security officials of a deal that looks significant but does not, in reality, prevent Iran from obtaining a bomb – a so-called Singapore scenario, a reference to Mr Trump's high-profile, first-term summit with Kim Jong-un, after which North Korea retained its nuclear bombs. Israeli chiefs are said to be wary of allowing Iran to build up its capability while the US issues threats but takes no action. Mr Trump campaigned on a platform of ending wars, rather than starting them, and commentators believe his powerful vice-president, JD Vance, is instinctively opposed to striking Iran, as evidenced by the recent leaked Telegram messages in relation to strikes on the Houthis. Meanwhile, it has been reported for months now that Israeli military chiefs believe they have the capability to destroy Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities and deal a devastating blow to its stockpiles. However, in practice, Israel would need a green light from Washington. Such an attack, even if conducted unilaterally, would require coordination with the US. It would also need special US bunker-busting bombs that Washington has never before given to Israel, and the potential use of American refuelling aircraft. The Jewish state would also want US help to fend off retaliatory Iranian missile and drone barrages on Israeli cities and infrastructure. Thaad batteries integrate well into Israel's already state-of-the-art missile defence systems and there are believed to be about 100 US troops in Israel to operate them. The system comprises six truck-mounted launchers, with eight interceptors on each launcher. It costs more than $1 billion per unit, can intercept targets up to 124 miles away and has had a near-perfect success rate during trials. However, for a massive Iranian bombardment of the type experienced twice last year, Israel would ideally require US help in the form of intelligence, radar, fighter jets and naval surface-to-air missiles. Finally, the real-terms goal of a preemptive strike on Iran would be to drive it to accept a strict regime of weapons inspections, a deal that would require US involvement. Mr Netanyahu's hastily arranged visit to Washington on Monday is ostensibly to discuss US trade tariffs on Israel – the White House imposed 17 per cent, despite a last-minute Israeli scramble to remove import duties on American goods – and the war in Gaza and return of the hostages. However, Mr Netanyahu's office said the 'Iranian threat' was also on the agenda. A press conference in the East Wing of the White House will follow the talks. The last time the two men met in Washington, Mr Trump stunned the world – and, apparently, Mr Netanyahu – by revealing his vision of a 'Middle East Riviera' for Gaza. On Monday, following the signing of a France-Egypt strategic partnership, Emmanuel Macron repeated France's opposition to any displacement of the Palestinians in Gaza, or annexation of the West Bank. He also reiterated his concerns over Iran's nuclear programme. Dr Raz Zimmt, an Iran expert, told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that Iran believes it can achieve an agreement 'between the current situation and the previous nuclear agreement' – which Mr Trump scrapped because he said it was too soft. The academic said: 'A clear red line is dismantling infrastructure, and I anticipate that if [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei comes to face a choice between a military attack and dismantling the nuclear infrastructure – he will prefer a military attack.' Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, said on Sunday that 'direct negotiations would be meaningless with a party that constantly threatens to resort to force in violation of the UN Charter and that expresses contradictory positions from its various officials'. 'We remain committed to diplomacy and are ready to try the path of indirect negotiations,' Araghchi added. 'Iran keeps itself prepared for all possible or probable events, and just as it is serious in diplomacy and negotiations, it will also be decisive and serious in defending its national interests and sovereignty.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
South China Morning Post
19-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's HQ-19 system to shield against hypersonic weapons and nuclear threats
Almost a decade has passed since the People's Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping's plans for a massive overhaul of the world's biggest military. In the seventh of a series on Chinese weapons systems, we look at the country's new anti-ballistic missile system. Advertisement After 14 years of testing, China has debuted the Hongqi-19 (HQ-19), an anti-ballistic missile system capable of intercepting threats beyond the atmosphere, as well as those moving at hypersonic speeds within the atmosphere. The HQ-19, also known as Red Flag-19, has been touted as a more competent rival of the US Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system developed in the 1990s. The new anti-ballistic missile system is expected to be crucial for defending Chinese territory from a high altitude against ballistic missiles, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Here is what we know about the Chinese system from its unveiling at the Zhuhai Air Show in November and how it might be different from THAAD. Technological advancement The HQ-19, developed by the Chinese air force, and THAAD both operate using a 'hit-to-kill' technology. They use kinetic energy, instead of an explosive warhead, to destroy targets and are focused on countering short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
South China Morning Post
27-02-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
To counter Trump threat, China can help North Korea denuclearise
US President Donald Trump is playing a critical role in ending the war in Ukraine through a carrot-and-stick strategy, pressuring both Russia and Ukraine while pushing European allies to take on greater responsibility for their defence. A similar approach to Pyongyang seems likely. Advertisement Trump is in favour of dialogue with North Korea but coercive leverage may be his most effective option. He may threaten to expand the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea or redeploy tactical nuclear weapons there. Alternatively he may urge Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen their national defence by adopting nuclear weapons programmes. Such moves could derail efforts to ease regional tensions and be catastrophic for Chinese interests. This should push Beijing to make a bold move to counter Trump with a plan to denuclearise North Korea A common misconception is that nuclear weapons are the cause of the problem when North Korea's nuclear weapons are a result of its ideology. Consequently, focusing on weapon development alone will not cement peace in the region. President Xi Jinping should formulate a strategic plan for North Korea based upon a clear understanding of four unpleasant truths. Advertisement
