Speaking to US troops inside a hangar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar during his ongoing Middle East tour, Donald Trump described the multi-billion-dollar “Golden Dome’ system as a huge leap in America’s defence
Donald Trump has unveiled ambitious plans to build a “Golden Dome” missile defence shield over the United States.
Speaking to US troops inside a hangar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar during his ongoing Middle East tour, the US leader described the multi-billion-dollar system as a huge leap in America’s defence.
“It will cost many billions of dollars, all made in the USA,” he said. “It was called the Iron Dome, but I changed it to the Golden Dome. I thought it was a little more beautiful.” Referencing US military strength and his administration’s defence priorities, Trump added: “We won World War II, and we are now stronger than ever. We want to build a ‘golden dome’ to protect our skies. We will build the F-47 fighter jet and develop the F-35 fighters.”
The proposed shield draws on Israel’s Iron Dome system, which has become a cornerstone of that country’s defence during recent conflicts.The Iron Dome relies on an integrated system of radars, computer processors, and interceptor missiles to protect cities and critical infrastructure from short-range threats.
However, experts caution that replicating – let alone expanding – such a system across the vastly larger and geographically diverse States would be far more complex and costly.
“It’s the difference between a kayak and a battleship,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a missile defence expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. “Israel is more than 400 times smaller than the United States. What works there can’t just be scaled up without major technological and logistical changes.”
Trump first introduced the idea of a “Golden Dome” in a speech earlier this year, and an executive order followed that prioritised research into space-based interceptors as part of the system’s foundation. Unlike traditional missile defence systems, such interceptors would be designed to neutralise threats before they reach US airspace.
Several defence contractors have expressed interest in competing for the project. Reports previously suggested that Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, was involved in a bid — a claim the billionaire denied in a post on X. Despite enthusiasm from some military and political figures, the plan faces enormous hurdles, both technical and financial.
While existing missile interception technologies, such as the Ground-Based Midcourse Defence system, offer limited protection against intercontinental ballistic missiles, a US-wide Golden Dome would require much larger coordination between land, air, and space-based systems and billions more in government spending.
The announcement comes amid growing anxiety over America’s ability to fend off next-generation weapons, particularly Russia’s nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik – known in NATO reporting as the SSC-X-9 “Skyfall.”
Originally announced by Vladimir Putin in 2018, the Burevestnik is believed to have nuclear propulsion and be capable of flying for extended periods and evading traditional defence systems. While long shrouded in secrecy, satellite imagery analysis suggests Russia is preparing new launch sites.
The missile has been tested at various Russian military sites, including Novaya Zemlya, Nenoksa, and Kapustin Yar, some of which are operated by Russia’s nuclear agency, Rosatom.
Analysts had previously believed the system was years from completion, but fresh intelligence points to accelerated progress. Trump’s Golden Dome vision reflects a broader attempt to shore up US defences during renewed global instability, particularly with Iran, another focus of his Middle East trip.
Speaking in Qatar, Trump suggested a new nuclear agreement with Tehran was close. “Iran has sort of agreed to the terms,” he said. “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust. It’s very simple.” However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian immediately rejected Trump’s claim, accusing the president of misunderstanding regional dynamics.
“Trump is naive for thinking he can come to our region, threaten us, and hope that we back down against his demands,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iranian state media. “We will never negotiate our dignity. This is in the blood of every Iranian.”