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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22th May 2025

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Golden Dome and the New Space Race

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Golden Dome is a proposed space-based missile defense shield announced by Donald Trump

Golden Dome Space Race: A Turning Point in 21st-Century Space Missions
The Golden Dome is a proposed space-based missile defense shield announced by Donald Trump, aiming to integrate next-generation land, sea, and space technologies to intercept enemy missiles, including ICBMs.

Introduction

  • Recently, former US President Donald Trump announced that he had shortlisted a design for an ambitious new missile defense system named the Golden Dome. 
  • General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force has been appointed to lead the project. 
  • Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the Golden Dome is envisioned as a next-generation missile defense shield that integrates land, sea, and space-based technologies to protect the United States from a wide spectrum of threats, including Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).

Background: From Iron Dome to Golden Dome

  • The Iron Dome, developed by Israel after the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war, is a short-range, ground-based air defense system that uses radar to detect and intercept rockets, artillery shells, and drones. 
  • It is effective within a limited geographical area and was built to counter threats from non-state actors like Hamas and Hezbollah.
  • However, the Golden Dome seeks to go far beyond this. Designed for a country with the geographical and strategic complexity of the United States, it aims to counter more advanced threats from nation-states like China and Russia, especially ICBMs capable of traveling thousands of kilometers and reaching hypersonic speeds during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

Key Features of the Golden Dome

  1. Space-Based Components
    • The Golden Dome envisions thousands of small satellites deployed in Earth’s orbit.
    • These satellites would be equipped with space-based sensors to detect enemy missile launches in real time.
    • The system may include space-based interceptors, which would attempt to neutralize threats shortly after launch during the boost phase — a capability not present in any current operational system.

       

  1. Integration of Technologies
    • Unlike the Iron Dome which is radar-dependent, the Golden Dome seeks to integrate radars, sea-based missile systems, land-based defense installations, and orbital components.
    • This integration would allow for global coverage, which is essential for defending against ICBMs and emerging hypersonic threats.

       

  1. Technological Ambition
    • Former President Trump cited Ronald Reagan’s 1980s “Star Wars” Strategic Defense Initiative, which was abandoned due to lack of technology at the time.
    • With advances in satellite miniaturization, missile tracking algorithms, and space launch capabilities, particularly from private players like SpaceX, the project is now seen as technologically feasible, although still untested.
comparison of iron dome and golden dome

Geopolitical and Strategic Significance

  • The Golden Dome marks a shift toward space weaponization, moving from using satellites purely for surveillance to potentially deploying space-based weapons.
  • It reflects Washington’s growing concern over strategic threats from China and Russia, both of which possess ICBMs and advanced missile technologies.
  • A successful implementation of the Golden Dome could tilt the global strategic balance, potentially spurring a new arms race in space.

Challenges and Concerns

  1. Technological Hurdles
    • While the concept is theoretically feasible, the deployment of effective space-based interceptors remains unproven.
    • The logistics of launching, maintaining, and synchronizing thousands of satellites pose significant technical difficulties.

  1. Cost and Timeline
    • Trump estimated the cost of the system to be $175 billion, with an operational target of January 2029.
    • Republican lawmakers have proposed an initial $25 billion investment, but this is linked to a larger $150-billion defense bill that faces resistance in Congress.

  1. Procurement and Political Controversies
    • There are concerns about the transparency of the procurement process.
    • Companies such as SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril — all known for close ties to Trump allies — are considered frontrunners in the project.
    • Democratic lawmakers have raised questions about potential favoritism and the role of private corporations in strategic defense.

Conclusion

  • The Golden Dome, while still in the conceptual phase, represents a significant shift in how nations may approach missile defense in the coming decades.
  • If realized, it would be the first operational space-based missile shield, with the potential to revolutionize global security dynamics. 
  • However, the project faces formidable technological, financial, and political challenges. Its progress will be closely watched by defense analysts and strategic communities worldwide.

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