US: What is the Golden Dome Defense System announced by Trump – How Russia and China Answer

US President Donald Trump has announced that it has approved costs of $ 175 billion on the multilevel Golden Dome missile program, which aims to tackle aerial threats « even if they come from space ».

As part of the project, the US will develop intercepts in space to protect against ballistic and ultrasonic threats.

But let’s look at more about the Golden Dome defense system.

What did Trump announce?

Trump announced an initial funding of $ 25 billion for the project, which will cost $ 175 billion in total and will be completed by the end of his current term in 2029.

« As soon as it is fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be able to intercept rockets even if they are launched from other aspects of the planet, even if they are launched by space, » Trump said.

« This is very important for the success, even the survival of our country, » he added.

Trump also announced that US spacecraft general Michael Gakelein will be the head of the program, responsible for supervising the progress of the project.

« I promised the American people that I would build a shield of flashing defense to protect our country from the threat of foreign missile attacks, » Trump said.

Trump also announced: « He was addressed to us Canada, they want to participate in the project. So we’ll talk to them. « 

What is Golden Dome?

Trump said the Golden Dome would reject « ultrasonic missiles, ballistic missiles and advanced cruise missiles ». He added that the program would have space interceptors and sensors.

Pentagon leader Pitt Hegschez said, for his part, that the system aims to protect the « home -made rocket homeland, ballistic missiles, ultrasound rockets, drones, whether it is conventional or nuclear weapons. »

The announcement came a few months after the Trump Executive Decree (27/1), which said « to start the construction of a state -of -the -art IRON DOME anti -missile shield, which can protect Americans ».

The Iron Dome is Israel’s anti -missile system that detects an incoming rocket, determines its course and intercepts it. System development was funded by the US through a grant.

Trump noted that existing defense capabilities would be used in the construction of the project and estimated that the total cost was about $ 175 billion.

The White House has not even given more details about the project. While Trump said the system would grow in the US, he did not name which companies to be involved.

A space defense system was first designed by Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989. In the midst of the Cold War, Reagan had preferred the construction of a « barrier » against nuclear weapons, which included space technology as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative or Strategic Defense Design.

« We will conclude in practice the work started by President Rigan 40 years ago, finishing the missile threat to our country forever, » Trump said on Tuesday.

Can it be implemented?

Experts in the industry question the schedule and budget of the project.

Golden Dome funding has not yet been secured. At Tuesday’s press conference, Trump confirmed that he asked for $ 25 billion for the system in a bill to reduce taxes currently moving to Congress, although this amount could be cut in the midst of continuing negotiations.

In addition, some variation in the total cost of the project is expected. Speaking to the Associated Press, a government official who is not named said he had given Trump three versions of the plan, described as « average », « high » and « extremely high ». These versions correspond to the number of satellites, sensors and interceptors to be placed in space. The AP said Trump chose the « high » version, which has an initial cost ranging between 30 and 100 billion dollars.

« The new data indicates a cost of $ 175 billion, but the question remains: When could it be completed? Probably in 10 years, « Tom Karako, a senior associate in the Department of Defense and Security of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), responds to Reuters.

On May 1, 42 Democratic members of the US Congress co -signed a letter rejecting a possible involvement of Spacex by Elon Musk, which is one of the top technology companies that seek to build basic accessories of the Golden Dome.

« Mr Musk has exerted an inappropriate influence on the Golden Dome contract. This is a repetition of a worrying motif, in which Mr Musk violates rules on the conflict of interest, « he said in the letter.

How do Russia and China answer?

The US is seeing a growing threat from China and Russia, their key competitors.

In recent decades, China has progressed its ballistic and ultrasound technology, while Moscow has one of the most advanced intercontinental missile systems on the planet. Russia and the US have gathered the largest nuclear heads of nuclear heads worldwide.

The drone threat has also increased in the midst of technology progress.

China denounced the Golden Dome as a threat to international security and accused the US of causing a race of equipment.

« The United States puts above all their own interests and is obsessed with seeking their own absolute security, which violates the fundamental principle that says that no country should move for its own security at the expense of other countries’ security, » said a spokesman.

« (The plan) increases the risk of becoming the battlefield, supplies an equipment race and undermines international security, » he added.

The Kremlin said, for its part, that the Golden Dome missile plan is a « dominant issue » for the US.

« This is a dominant issue for the United States. If the United States believes there is a missile threat, then of course they will develop a system of anti -missile defense, « Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

« This is what all countries do, » he added.

« Of course, in the near future, the evolution of events will require the resumption of contacts to restore strategic stability, » he said.