Washington, May 20 (EFE).- US President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled his plans for a “Golden Dome” missile defense system that will cost $175 billion and is expected to be built in three years.
In a press conference with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other officials, he said the budget bill he wants approved by Congress will include an initial $25 billion for its construction.
“Once fully constructed the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space,” said the Republican leader.
Trump declared the system, in the vein of Israel’s Iron Dome, is expected to be completed by the end of his term, when the US will have “the best system ever.”
“We helped Israel with theirs, and it was very successful, and now we have technology that’s even far advanced from that … hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles and advanced cruise missiles, all of them will be knocked out of the air,” he added.
The president announced his intention to build this dome in March, when he addressed the t session of Congress, asking lawmakers to “fund a state-of-the-art Golden Dome shield to protect our homeland, all made in the USA.”
The Israeli system is tasked with intercepting and destroying short-range rockets and drones in populated areas with high precision, and, according to some media reports, each intercepted missile costs the country around $50,000.
CNN had previously reported that the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the US could have to spend more than $500 billion over 20 years to develop a viable Golden Dome.
Trump claimed that Canada has asked to be part of the project.
“It won’t be very difficult to do, but they’ll pay their fair share,” he said of the involvement of the northern neighbor, noting that they have not yet finalized the financial details of their participation.
“I was really looking forward to this day because this is very important for the success and even the survival of our country. It’s a pretty evil world out there. So this goes a long way to the survival of this great country,” the president added.
Hegseth believed that the project was a “game changer” and that “enemies” of the country will be watching the project.
“Our enemies, our adversaries, are going to pay a lot of attention to this, just like they have to President Trump from day one. Sir you’re defending the homeland, defending the American people, it’s going to benefit my kids, my grandkids, all of ours,” he emphasized.
The Department of Defense later released a statement, signed by Hegseth, offering more details, such as that the Golden Dome will include space-based interceptors and sensors.
“Some US technology in space such as space-based sensors and air and missile defense exist today, but all of the systems comprising the Golden Dome architecture will need to be seamlessly integrated. Golden Dome will be fielded in phases, prioritizing defense where the threat is greatest,” he specified. EFE
gac-mgr-ecs/tw
