Golden Dome | US space-based defence system?

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the Golden Dome project, which is based on Iron Dome.

The touted defence system is said to be based on space technology.

• Golden Dome success rate?

• Golden Dome, an Iron Dome successor?

• U.S. counter to Russian IRBM and Burevestnik hypersonic missiles?

The U.S. is looking to develop a space based defence system that is inspired by former U.S. president Ronald Reagan's “Star Wars” plan and Israel's Iron dome defence system.

The project is estimated to cost $175 billion. Around $540 billion is estimated budget, just for the space based components of this program and over the next 20 years.

Golden Dome based on Iron Dome. Is it a Successor?

The Golden Dome is inspired by Israel's Iron dome defence system. It will be far superior to the Iron Dome of Israel, which was developed by both U.S. and Israel jointly.

Israel says Iron Dome has 90% success rate, while the Golden Dome would have 100% success rate of shooting down the incoming projectiles, according to U.S.

The missile system is designed to shoot down advanced missiles heading towards the United States, using both ground and space to detect incoming projectiles.

The space based defence system would likely work on infrared space-based sensors to track and intercept missiles using advanced weapons system.

The system use array or network of satellites plus ground based interconnected defence radars and advanced technology.

One advantage of such a system would include detection of attacking missile in their boost phase, something that no other defence system could do.

The Golden Dome would be capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles and drones, whether they are conventional or nuclear.

The U.S. based leading aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin could likely to be a part of development of Golden Dome.

The hurdles facing the project include political, financial and technological.

Trump wants to develop the system within his current term, in three years.

The project will be overseen by the United States Space Force.

China concerned over golden dome

China says it is concerned about the Golden Dome, and it could undermine the global strategic balance.

“This undermines global strategic balance and stability. China expresses serious concern over this. We urge the United States to abandon the development and deployment of a global missile defence system as soon as possible.” Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Golden Dome plan may violate the outer space treaty that designates space as a peaceful zone.

The critics say, the project risks the potential of militarization of Space, and disrupt the global order.

President Donald Trump said, “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 the space.”

Canada has shown its interest in joining the project.

Russia responds to the announcement

Russia says this is a sovereign matter, but warns against U.S. and Russia strategic stability nuclear dialogue talks designed to avoid a nuclear war may need to be revisited. Said Kremlin Spokesperson.

US counter to Russian IRBM, and Burevestnik hypersonic missile?

Pentagon has warned for years against the newest missile developed by China and Russia, requiring updated countermeasures are necessary.

The Russian new hypersonic missile “Burevestnik” is a nuclear-powered missile, nuclear-armed cruise missile. It is also known as the 9M730 Burevestnik or the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO.

The Burevestnik missile has a large range of 20,000 km, it could target locations all over the world from within Russia, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

This is due to the special capability of the missile, the Burevestnik works with nuclear propulsion system, which potentially gives it unlimited range.

This enables it to fly in unpredictable paths and avoid existing missile defence systems.

The missile is designed to fly at low altitudes, which, combined with its unpredictable flight path, makes it difficult for conventional missile defence systems to detect and intercept.

Russian developed Oreshnik missile is also a cutting-edge intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). It can travel at speeds up to Mach 11—more than ten times the speed of sound.

Potential hazard to outer space?

The project is said to be a “potential hazard to outer space.”

Such a defence system would involve outer space cutting edge technology, and development would require testing, which could result is debris in low earth orbit.

This could interfere in other satellites operations.

Another issue would be militarization of space, which is already an ongoing threat.

On top of it, a mash of space-based lasers is not a task that could be easily done.

China and Russia also have satellites in space that are capable of disable other satellites, but not a proper defence system that U.S. plan to introduce.

Space-based weapons are nowhere near fruition as of now, due to technological limitations, international laws and global order.

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