The “Golden Shield”, the anti-missile defense system for the United States wanted by Donald Trump, could cost around 1.2 trillion dollars over 20 years, estimated the Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday.
In 2025, the American president had announced his intention to develop this missile shield based on the Israeli “Iron Dome” model, and to put it into service by the end of his term in 2029.
Satellite Interceptors: He had then estimated the total cost at “around 175 billion dollars once completed.” But many experts at that time pointed out that the project was unrealistic and redundant given the anti-missile defense systems currently possessed by the United States.
In a report published on Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this independent parliamentary agency estimated that a national anti-missile defense system with capabilities roughly aligned with those demanded by Donald Trump “would cost around 1.2 trillion dollars to develop, deploy, and operate over 20 years”. According to the CBO, the space component of the system would account for nearly 60% of the total costs.
Similar to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or “Star Wars” program, launched by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, the “Golden Shield” – or “Golden Dome” – aims to position interceptor satellites in space.
The goal is to quickly destroy any intercontinental ballistic missile heading towards American territory. China and Russia strongly opposed Donald Trump’s project last year.
Context Note: The “Golden Shield” is an anti-missile defense system proposed by Donald Trump. Fact Check Note: China and Russia opposed the project.
