Why in the News?

US President Donald Trump announced that he has shortlisted a design for a powerful new missile defence shield called the ‘Golden Dome’.

About the Golden Dome Project:

• Project Launch: It is a proposed missile defence shield announced by Donald Trump.
• Development: It is being led by Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force, with support from SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril.
• Timeline: The system is projected to cost $175 billion and is expected to be operational by January 2029.
• Purpose: It aims to protect the US from long-range missile threats, particularly ICBMs from China and Russia.
• Defence Layers: The system will combine technologies deployed on land, at sea, and in space for comprehensive coverage.

Key Features:

• Space-Based Interceptors: Thousands of orbiting satellites will carry and launch interceptors from space, offering global missile defence.
• Missile Tracking: Real-time detection using space-based sensors will allow the system to track enemy launches within seconds.
• Altitude and Reach: Drones and satellites operating at 15,000 meters or more will stay above many conventional air defences.
• Payload Flexibility: Capable of deploying surveillance drones, kamikaze UAVs, cruise missiles, and air-to-air missiles depending on mission needs.
• Modular Adaptability: The system is designed for multiple applications, including military operations, public security, and maritime surveillance.

Parallel Examples:

• Iron Dome (Israel): A short-range missile defence system using ground-based radar and Tamir interceptors for protection against rockets and UAVs.
• “Star Wars” Initiative (1980s): President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) aimed to destroy nuclear missiles from space using lasers and interceptors.
• DARPA’s Gremlins Project: Explored mother ship-launched drones; Golden Dome builds on this idea at a larger and space-based scale.

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