In Could, President Donald Trump chosen a design for the Golden Dome—a space-based protection system designed to guard the U.S. from overseas missiles. Although some specialists take into account it a pipe dream, Trump claims he can construct it in three years. America Area Drive is already getting the ball rolling.
In keeping with a June 27 request for info (RFI), the Area Drive is conducting market analysis on space-based interceptor capabilities for missile protection. The RFI goals to assemble info on present applied sciences and strategize the development of a big constellation of satellites armed with interceptors, i.e. Golden Dome. Although it isn’t a request for proposals, this RFI underscores the Area Drive’s dedication to Trump’s fantastically brief timeline for Golden Dome’s development.
Equipping satellites with rocket launchers or lasers to allow them to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles isn’t a brand new idea. Ronald Reagan was the primary U.S. president to suggest such an concept, presenting it because the Strategic Protection Initiative in 1983. On the time, critics likened the system to trying to shoot a bullet with one other bullet. The know-how to assist it didn’t exist, and it required the militarization of house, which nationwide treaties beforehand prohibited.
Quick-forward almost 50 years: Trump has dusted off Reagan’s Strategic Protection Initiative and given it a shiny new identify. He unveiled the primary particulars of the Golden Dome venture alongside Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth throughout an Oval Workplace briefing on Could 20. Whereas it bears similarities to Israel’s Iron Dome system, the Golden Dome can be much more expansive—and costly.
This unusually massive and sophisticated house protect would include an unlimited community of satellites able to detecting, monitoring, and intercepting incoming missiles, along with a smaller fleet of offensive satellites, Reuters stories. Trump claimed that constructing the chosen design would price $175 billion and take about three years. Each the price range and timeline battle with a Congressional Funds Workplace evaluation, which estimated the venture may take 20 years and value $524 billion.
Even earlier than the Could announcement, the Pentagon was mulling over Trump’s Golden Dome plans. In April, Reuters reported that the Missile Protection Company (MDA) and Area Drive had been holding a collection of conferences with protection contractors to debate space-based interceptors. In a discover, they requested corporations to supply details about precise or conceptual space-based interceptors that will shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles throughout their “increase section”—their gradual ascent by the environment. The Pentagon additionally expressed curiosity in ideas that may intercept targets within the early phases of flight, akin to simply after launch or throughout midcourse, that would ultimately allow boost-phase intercepts. At present out there protection applied sciences solely goal enemy missiles whereas they journey by house. In Could, the MDA issued a draft solicitation discover for a 10-year, $151 billion multiple-award contract automobile to assist Golden Dome.
The RFI issued Friday seems to mark the subsequent section of this early improvement. “The aim of this RFI is to determine present space-based missile protection capabilities and strategize on an structure of a proliferated [space-based interceptor] constellation able to boost-phase, mid-course-phase, and glide-phase intercepts,” the discover reads. “The technique requires the U.S. industrial base to work collectively in creating the potential to defend the homeland, using mature applied sciences, established manufacturing traces, and confirmed capabilities,” it goes on to say. After reviewing responses, the Area Drive might meet with choose corporations to debate subsequent steps.
Whereas the Pentagon is taking steps towards making Trump’s Golden Dome dream a actuality, it’s nonetheless largely theoretical. Detractors have raised issues concerning the venture’s technical feasibility, price, and different hurdles. Nonetheless, house and protection corporations are already jostling to get in on the motion, and the venture has gained some political and budgetary assist. Whether or not this can be sufficient to get it off the bottom stays to be seen.