How Trump’s $175B Golden Dome Will Upgrade U.S. Defense | WSJ

Project Overview - The US needs to put incredibly complex technology into space, including satellites that don't even exist yet, for President Trump's $175 billion missile defense shield, the Golden Dome, to work [1] - The Golden Dome aims to counter advancements in missile technology from competitors like China and Russia, including ICBMs, FOBS, and boosted hypersonic glide weapons [3][4][5][6][7] - The US plans to launch hundreds or thousands of sensors into orbit to detect and track maneuvering missiles [10] Technological Advancements & Challenges - Competitors are developing missiles that can maneuver and evade current defenses, posing challenges to existing detection and tracking systems [3][9] - The US is developing a sensor layer, a network of tracking satellites, to keep track of maneuvering objects [10] - The US is considering space interceptors to take out missiles earlier in their flight, but the design is unclear [11][12] Geopolitical Implications - The Golden Dome could be used offensively to take out satellites belonging to China or Russia, leading to concerns about an arms race in space [13] - China and Russia have expressed opposition to the Golden Dome [13] Potential Obstacles - Experts suggest the Golden Dome could cost billions more than the estimated $175 billion and take much longer to build [14] - Previous missile defense initiatives have fallen short due to high costs, technological shortcomings, and foreign pressure [15]