By Wang Min
Recently, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to initiate the development of the "Iron Dome for America" missile defense system. It requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to submit an architecture design and detailed implementation plan for the system within 60 days.
The primary purpose of the "Iron Dome for America" missile defense system is to counter threats from ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, advanced cruise missiles, and other similar threats. Donald Trump's announcement of the program at the start of his second term reflects multiple strategic considerations.
The first is to strengthen missile defense capabilities. Currently, the US still considers such weapons as ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles as primary security threats. The Trump administration aims to develop a next-generation missile defense shield with the latest technologies, accelerate the deployment of space-based sensors capable of tracking hypersonic and ballistic missiles, and develop new space-based interceptors capable of boost-phase intercept.
Some analysts suggest that if the US deploys such weapon systems in space, other countries may be forced to take countermeasures, leading to an intensified arms race in space. Given that the US Space Force was established during the first term of Donald Trump, there is speculation that the US will significantly increase its military presence in space in the coming years.
The second is to replicate the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). The SDI program aimed to establish a multi-layered, multi-faceted comprehensive defense system. With the end of the Cold War, the program was ultimately abandoned after enormous expenditures. In the executive order signed by Donald Trump, he openly expressed regret over the cancellation of the SDI, revealing the Cold War mentality of the US and the competitive nature of major-country competition behind the launch of the "Iron Dome for America" plan.
The third is to enlist the support of military-industrial complexes. Donald Trump emphasized that the construction of the "Iron Dome for America" missile defense system will rely on domestic companies. Defense experts estimate that the project will require at least $2.5 trillion. Such a massive plan, once implemented, will benefit US military-industrial complexes significantly, both through the enormous upfront research and development costs and the recurring procurement orders, thus solidifying their support for the Trump administration. Currently, several US defense contractors have expressed support for the "Iron Dome for America" plan, stating their intention to play a key role in the program.
Despite Donald Trump's ambitious claim to build the most powerful shield with the program, there are numerous challenges ahead. On one hand, intercepting hypersonic weapons is no easy task. The US attempt to deploy space-based interceptors faces not only significant technical hurdles but also strong opposition from the international community. On the other hand, the US is currently facing ongoing fiscal constraints. Reports indicate that the country plans to cut its defense budget by 8% annually over the next five years. In this context, whether the program can secure stable and continuous funding remains uncertain.
