Context:

President Donald Trump has unveiled a detailed vision for constructing a 'Golden Dome' missile defense system aimed at shielding the United States from international threats, with a completion target set before the end of his term. This ambitious project is inspired by Israel's Iron Dome but seeks to offer a much larger scale of protection, defending against advanced ballistic and hypersonic missiles over the entire country. The estimated cost of the project is around $175 billion, with funding partially drawn from a tax bill Trump is advocating for Congress to pass. Despite the administration's optimistic timeline of three years, military experts suggest it could take 7 to 10 years, with significant financial and technological challenges to overcome. The plan's feasibility is questioned, as previous attempts to establish such a defense have failed due to technological gaps and prohibitive costs, while adversaries like Russia and China continue to pose evolving threats with their missile capabilities.

Dive Deeper:

• President Trump announced the 'Golden Dome' missile defense system, claiming it will be operational in three years to protect against global missile threats, with the system capable of intercepting missiles from anywhere on the planet.

• Inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, which protects small areas from short-range threats, the 'Golden Dome' aims to cover the entire U.S., a nation much larger and needing defense against advanced missile types.

• The project is projected to cost around $175 billion, led by Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, with $25 billion sourced from Trump's proposed spending cuts and tax bill, emphasizing the need for Congressional support.

• Military experts cast doubt on the administration's timeline, suggesting a realistic timeframe of 7 to 10 years, and warn that the system may only protect key federal buildings and major cities due to its complexity.

• Previous U.S. plans for a missile shield have been stymied by technological and financial constraints, with the Defense Intelligence Agency highlighting ongoing threats from countries like China, Russia, and North Korea.

• The development of the 'Golden Dome' will involve collaboration between government agencies and private defense contractors, including interest from SpaceX, but details about the system's architecture remain unspecified.

• Concerns about the project's feasibility arise from historical challenges in missile defense technology and cost overruns, with some experts predicting the expense could far exceed hundreds of billions of dollars.