Golden Dome Missile Defense System
Syllabus: Science & Tech (UPSC Prelims)
Source: DD News
Context:
The U.S. President has announced the Golden Dome Missile Defense System, a $175 billion project designed to shield the country from advanced foreign missile threats.
What is the Golden Dome?
- A next-generation U.S. missile defense program with space-based and land-based intercept layers.
- Considered a technological leap beyond Israel’s Iron Dome and the U.S.’s earlier Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).
Aim
- Neutralize enemy ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles before they reach U.S. territory.
- Strengthen national security by integrating space, ground systems, and advanced sensor networks.
How It Works
- Space-based intercepts – Hundreds of satellites detect and destroy missiles during the boost phase using interceptors or lasers.
- Ground-based defense – Upgraded interceptors in California and Alaska engage threats mid-flight.
- New launch sites – Five additional bases (three in mainland U.S., two in Hawaii and Alaska) to intercept in space.
- Local defense layer – Protection for major population centers using radars, Patriot systems, and common launchers.
Key Features
- Multi-layered shield – Covers boost, midcourse, and terminal phases.
- Targets multiple threats – Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles.
- Global tracking – Advanced Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor Satellites.
- Public-private collaboration – Involves firms like SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, RTX.
Significance
- National security shield – Comprehensive protection against emerging missile threats.
- Technological advancement – Builds on Iron Dome’s success, but scaled up to cover global, multi-threat defense.
