Trump announces $175B for Golden Dome defense shield over America
- Reference: 1747834690
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/05/21/trump_golden_dome/
- Source link:
In January Trump signed an [1]Executive Order for what he called the "Iron Dome of America" that would protect the US from ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. The order called for a mix of space-based interceptors to counter ballistic missile launches, a constellation of small, linked surveillance satellites dubbed the [2]Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture [PDF], and missiles based on land and aircraft capable of neutralizing any threat.
The plan is now called Golden Dome, presumably after the president's favorite color, and Trump announced the first $25 billion in funding would come when his "big, beautiful" finance bill is submitted to Congress. Heading up the scheme is General Michael Guetlein, vice chairman of the US Space Force, and Trump said the Dome would be operational by the time he leaves office.
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The president also said that Canada had also asked to be part of the Dome project. He said he was amenable to that, so long as the Canucks paid their way. Furthermore, he said the entire system would be made in America because Silicon Valley was "the best in the world."
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"We think it's going to be about a little less than three years," he said when asked about the timeline."Ronald Reagan wanted it many years ago but we didn't have the technology. We will truly be completing the job that President Reagan started 40 years ago, forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland."
[6]Youtube Video
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While America has been dabbling in missile defense for more than 70 years, it really kicked off with Ronald Reagan's 1983 Strategic Defense Initiative - aka Star Wars. This envisaged ground-based interceptors that could knock out incoming missiles and satellite weapons systems that could intercept rockets in flight.
The satellite interceptors proved too experimental and expensive but 40 years later, at a cost of around [8]$350 billion , the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system is in operation. The system has 40 interceptor rockets in Alaska and four in California, all ready to shoot down an incoming ballistic missile from North Korea or parts unknown. [9]In tests [PDF] it works 57 percent of the time, and that's when we know the launch time and target destination, and it costs around $4 billion a year to operate.
The interceptor rockets on the GMD are designed to disable a ballistic missile as it travels out into space and back down to Earth. But the president is now talking about something much larger in scale, with a system that can knock out low-flying hypersonic and smart cruise missiles, as well as submarine-based weapons.
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This will take a global early warning system and that's where Golden Dome's satellite network comes in. The plan envisages a network of interconnected satellites that would spot launches early and space-based interceptors that would be able to intercept any threat.
[11]Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' would create a regulation-free AI hellscape, AGs warn
[12]Pentagon declares war on 'outdated' software buying, opens fire on open source
[13]Signalgate lessons learned: If creating a culture of security is the goal, America is screwed
[14]Trump wants to fire quarter of NASA budget into black hole – and not in a good way
This isn't going to be cheap. According to a [15]report [PDF] from the Congressional Budget Office earlier this month a space-based system like this that was capable of knocking down "one or two" ICBMs would cost between $161 billion to $831 billion over the next 20 years. Given defense contractors are involved it's unlikely to be at the cheaper end of the spectrum.
So what happens if more than one or two rockets come over? According to a 2024 Department of Defense [16]report [PDF], China currently [17]has around 400 ICBM rockets capable of reaching the US; 550 launchers; and six ballistic missile submarines. Russia has 306 ICBMs capable of carrying 1,710 nuclear warheads, Congress reports, and 192 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Even assuming the opposition doesn't play it smart and send over a few dummy rockets, as Russia has [18]already done with drones in Ukraine, the Golden Dome systems wouldn't be able to stop even a medium-sized exchange. In addition, it [19]appears that Russia and China have equipped some of their missiles with decoys to make life even more difficult for defenders.
So with the Golden Dome looking increasingly unviable as a defense, why is it being done? Well, a lot of people will make a lot of money from it. Elon Musk will be happy to help launch those satellites (for a fee) and defense contractors are likely to be salivating at the thought of a blank check, and Trump said today that Congress would fully fund the project.
"It's amazing how easy this one is to fund," he said. "Some funding is tough, some is easy. When we say we're going to save everyone's lives in a crazy world it seems to be very easy to get." ®
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[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/the-iron-dome-for-america/
[2] https://www.sda.mil/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Transport-Layer_distro-A_FINAL.pdf
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aC34m1889TeecXgYWLPqSgAAA08&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aC34m1889TeecXgYWLPqSgAAA08&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aC34m1889TeecXgYWLPqSgAAA08&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyU40j_y6Cc
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aC34m1889TeecXgYWLPqSgAAA08&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/missile-defense-wont-save-us-from-growing-nuclear-arsenals/
[9] https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-13-294sp.pdf
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aC34m1889TeecXgYWLPqSgAAA08&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/20/trump_bill_regulation_free_ai/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/06/us_dod_software_procurement/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/25/signalgate_lessons_learned_if_creating/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/02/nasa_funding_slashed/
[15] https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-05/61237-SBI.pdf
[16] https://media.defense.gov/2024/Dec/18/2003615520/-1/-1/0/MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA-2024.PDF
[17] https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12672
[18] https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-thermobaric-bombs-decoy-2f904b04fcc5de17549415a974f5a92b
[19] https://www.aps.org/publications/reports/strategic-ballistic-missile-defense
[20] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
As you said previously, you definitely have a few downvote-everything-from-codejunky-whatever-it-says fans on here!
You'd even be downvoted for declaring how cute fluffy kittens are!
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
The only good kitten is a huffable kitten! - KittenHuffer
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
I wouldn't worry. Does anyone but himself think it can be done in 4 years? I suppose some odds & ends of things will be done & he'll declare it complete. Maybe in his mind it may be. Who knows, maybe in his mind it already is.
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
@Doctor Syntax
"I wouldn't worry. Does anyone but himself think it can be done in 4 years?"
I am guessing the next administration may just cancel it if its democrat or sweep its end under the rug if its republican. He might hope it can be done in 3 years but I doubt he could keep the pressure on all the contractors to get it done during his presidency.
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
I suspect he's been talking to Elon who has never seen a tech problem that couldn't be solved in a few months -- in his humble opinion.
I've actually worked with ABM missile simulations and with cruise missiles. Plus I've seen what US air space looks like when an opponent turns on sophisticated jammers. I agree with the author here. No way this is going to be done in 3 years or work against, for example, the Chinese. Most likely prognosis. Years late. WAY over budget. Might work after a fashion sometimes. First thing those Republican budget hawks should (but won't) do is chop this out of their Big Beautiful Budget bill.
BTW, a sophisticated opponent will not only put multiple warheads on each ballistic missile. They'll also spew out a bunch of light weight decoys that look like warheads. Which do you target? And they'll likely do their best, probably with considerable success, to take out the satellite part of the surveillance system before they launch any missiles at the US.
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
That's the side effect of it, but the reality is that this is a thundering, unstoppable gravy train for Musk and SpaceX as well as a few other favoured supporters
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
@BartyFartsLast
"That's the side effect of it, but the reality is that this is a thundering, unstoppable gravy train for Musk and SpaceX as well as a few other favoured supporters"
If he manages to end the Ukraine war this may be his way of keeping the US war industry propped up until the next threat.
Re: May not repeat but it rhymes
"If he manages to end the Ukraine war"
He who, Trump? He (Trump) just threw in the towel after not ending the war easily with one phone call in 24 hours before he even became president. No make that 48 hours after he becomes president. On third thought make that 100 days. To paraphrase Trump "who knew (besides any body with a small gaggle of working neurons) that it would be this hard?". Elon? The only thing he (Elon) had to do with the war was supplying Starlink to Ukraine and then threatening to take it away. I ask because the post you responded to was about Elon who as I said had nothing of substance to do with the sad attempt by Trump to get his lord and master to end the war by taking his (Putin's) side even to the point of withholding weapons and aid going to Ukraine, making ridiculous lies about Ukraine starting the war, and of course more recently using "JP" Vance to double team Zelenskyy at the White House meeting.
Marvel
He's been watching Marvel again and thinks it will be like the dome over Wakanda, only instead of hiding the civilisation it will be gold in colour fruit bowl....
I wonder if we can sell him the O2 (the upside down wok to give it its old name) and spray it gold ?
So clearly the recent DOGE cost-cutting has nothing to do with balancing the USA's books given the huge new spending?
Even before this, his latest tax-cutting bill will add trillions to the US deficit. As you already knew, "balancing the books" is just an excuse to take from the poorest. [1]https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tax-cut-bill-faces-rare-overnight-stress-test-with-us-house-republicans-2025-05-21/
P.S. I WISH your downvoter would explain what is wrong with your statement, though I suspect even he or she is too embarrassed to write "he's being mean to my orange god"
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tax-cut-bill-faces-rare-overnight-stress-test-with-us-house-republicans-2025-05-21/
Trump does has one thing in common with 'god', he's only an imaginary friend.
you spelt "fiend" incorrectly
@Paul Crawford
"So clearly the recent DOGE cost-cutting has nothing to do with balancing the USA's books given the huge new spending?"
I would consider the military defence separate from the economic improvements of cutting down the government as with the Reagan era. Cutting wasteful government and bringing it back down to size (as well as dealing with the internal corruption) is a goal by itself, yet wartime planning and securing the country in the event of war is a separate issue.
Under Obama the US ditched the rule of a military that could match the next two military powers. Since Bush there has been forever wars sucking money for unclear goals. In the mean time China has been making leaps in its military ability and if we are honest Russia is a mighty power still.
The way I look at it is nobody bothered to maintain the roof while the sun was shining and now its got huge holes and the rain clouds are coming.
* I am the downvoter but was avoiding replying because I didnt want the board flooded with the usual trolls responding to my comment.
This won't cost the USA a penny
Because Trump has a cunning plan: China will pay for it.
All he has to do is take the money that the US is making from tariffs on Chinese goods and use it for the Golden Dome.
> "When we say we're going to save everyone's lives in a crazy world it seems to be very easy to get."
Nothing to do with saving lives. It's also easy to get Republicans to vote to lower spending on Medicaid whilst reducing tax for the rich.
[1]https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tax-cut-bill-faces-rare-overnight-stress-test-with-us-house-republicans-2025-05-21/
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tax-cut-bill-faces-rare-overnight-stress-test-with-us-house-republicans-2025-05-21/
Ironically, all those billions could save a huge amount of lives if invested in a sane healthcare system.
useless
What good does this do anybody? It's just going to rain radiation on top of you. It's not going to "save" you. This is an international crime lord, giving money to his minions.
crime.
Re: useless
I'd think a few high altitude thermonuclear blasts would knock holes in any feasible system, even with the best EMP protection, the effects of heavy atmospheric ionisation on RF are going to disable/degrade radar, comms etc.
But Musk et al. can make bigly on this, probably also the Trump Crime Family.
Re: useless
Even if the military infrastructure is hardened against EMP the civilian infrastructure is going to be toast
Re: useless
You missed the point. The interceptors are not going to hit any incoming missiles. The program will cost at least $175B. That is its purpose. It might be enough to get congress to stop funding SLS, which only existed to replace spending on constellation when that was cancelled.
You could just stop pissing people off. They wouldn't want to throw missiles at you then.
But y'know. 'murica gonna 'murica.
"Dome would be operational by the time he leaves office."
This must be on the same alternative timescale as peace in Ukraine within 24 hours of his taking office.
I thought Trump had no intention of leaving office. When he dies he will be stuffed and mounted in the oval office and will be at least as effective at government as he is now.
Though his "hair" could then provide the model for his big, beautiful Trumpodome.
So... chrome dome...
Orders a golden dome ?
"When we say we're going to save everyone's lives in a crazy world"
The crazy world that's just getting crazier by the day because of the moron in the White House...
Golden
This is stupendous news. A dome to protect from the hazardous golden projections that may shower down in the President's vicinity. In addition there's the bonus of some trickle-down eminating from such a gilded project. Showering the population with the gold of opportunity.
Golden Part Deux
The 'Golden Dome' name is actually fairly appropriate, at least, since as defensive materials go, gold is about as useless as you can get, and about the only thing that sets it apart is its exorbitant cost compared to more defensively useful materials.
And how precisely does this deal with a nuclear bomb arriving in a shipping container?
That scenario is handled differently. The bomb cannot get into the US until the importer pays the tariff.
Hey DoGE... wanna save $175bn+...
Another way around the golden dome
Sneak some warheads into the target country on shipping containers or other sea/land transport and just leave them very well hidden and secure in strategic locations ready to be detonated upon command.
It really doesn't need to be rocket science.
May not repeat but it rhymes
The cold war v2, The threat returns