Inside Donald Trump’s Golden Dome defence to cease hypersonic missiles however wants AI bots

In an attempt improve national security, Trump is set to evaluate strategies for a ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system over the coming week to create an advanced shield

Donald Trump is due to review his ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence options as he aims to create an advanced shield capable of protecting the US from a range of aerial threats.

The system recalls that of Israel’s Iron Dome and former President Ronald Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

The US Army is looking to increase autonomy through artificial intelligence solutions to reduce the manpower needed to manage Golden Dome, according to reports.

The system was launched by Trump in January this year to protect the US from intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic weapons, and cruise missiles, using cutting-edge technologies like space-based radar systems, missile interceptors, and even sci-fi strategies like laser weapons.

The project aims to create a multi-layered shield like the Israeli model which is very effective in blocking short-range rockets. But Trump’s project would cover the entirety of the US, which is over 9million square kilometers.

Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ envisioned similar defences, but it faltered due to technological limits at the time.

However the current President definitely thinks it’s possible due to modern advancements in space sensors, laser technology and missile defences.

Major General Frank Lozano told Defense News: “We’re wanting to integrate more AI-enabled fire control so that will help us reduce the manpower footprint”.

Trump signed an executive order on January 27 this year, calling it the “Iron Dome for America” before renaming it the Golden Dome.

But John Tierney, a former Democratic congressman and current executive director for the Center for Arms Control & Non-Proliferation, criticised the initiative, stating: “It’s a joke. It’s basically a scam,” and cautioned against allocating vast sums to a system with questionable efficacy.

Trump told the Pentagon to develop and implementation plan within two months of the order, and defence officials are working on the plan.

They are looking to integrate existing defence programs such as the Hypersonic Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS) and the Proliferated Weapons Space Architecture (PWSA) into the Golden Dome framework.

Both of these programs focus on early warning and tracking of advanced missile threats.

Missile Defense Agency and the US Space Force are primarily leading the effort.

Major defence contractors including Raytheon are expected to play a significant role in building and deploying the shield system.

If it works the Golden Done would be the most ambitious and far-reaching missile defence system in US history.

The project is very ambitious so discussions are happening to establish a dedicated organisation to oversee its development and implementation, as the existing Missile Defense Agency may not suffice.

Lockheed Martin has said they are ready to contribute its expertise and technologies to the project.

The company’s Chief Operating Officer likened the importance of the project to the Manhattan Project.

Other defence firms like RTX, L3Harris Technologies, and Northrop Grumman have also shown interest.

But the Golden Dome is a complex project. Unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, this shield is intended to counter long-range weapons like intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The system must also be able to defend against maneuverable threats like cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons that change direction mid-flight, making them very difficult to track and intercept.

This means the dome will have to rely heavily on space-based radars, lasers, and interceptors, which also come with significant technical and logistical hurdles.

It also covers a vast area, meaning it will require a multi-layer defence network, presenting other challenges.

There are also concerns a project as massive as this could inflame global tensions and trigger a new arms race, and experts are exploring how this might impact the balance of nuclear deterrence.

The project will also likely cost tens of billions of dollars, raising questions of whether it is sustainable.

It could also take up to seven years to build and field, and even then it may only protect major cities and critical government infrastructure.

There is also the risk that the system could be overwhelmed by a large-scale attack if multiple missiles launched simultaneously saturate and bypass the defences.

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