Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping new missile defense initiative, dubbed the “Golden Dome,” with an estimated initial cost of $175 billion (approximately Rp2.869 trilion).
The ambitious project aims to shield the United States from growing missile threats, particularly from China, which Trump described as an “increasing danger” to national security. At a White House press briefing, Trump announced that U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein would lead the program.
Originally outlined in a January executive order, the Golden Dome is envisioned as a vast space-based missile shield built on a constellation of hundreds of satellites.
According to CNN Indonesia, these satellites would be capable of detecting, tracking, and potentially intercepting hostile missiles before they enter U.S. airspace.
The system would rely on cutting-edge software and specialized expertise from Silicon Valley to ensure its technological superiority.
The U.S. Congressional Budget Office estimates that the total cost of building the Golden Dome missile defense system could reach as high as $831 billion over the next two decades.
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The proposal has drawn criticism from several Democratic lawmakers, who raised concerns about transparency in funding and procurement. They also expressed skepticism over a potential partnership with SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk which is seen as a leading contender to develop the system alongside defense tech companies like Palantir (PLTR.O) and Anduril.
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota dismissed these concerns, arguing that the defense industry must evolve.
“The autonomous space defense ecosystem is more about Silicon Valley than it is about ‘big iron’,” Cramer said, using a term that refers to traditional legacy defense contractors. “This opens the door for broader competition.”
Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, the Golden Dome is expected to be significantly more advanced. The concept includes not only reconnaissance satellites but also a separate fleet of offensive satellites designed to neutralize threats shortly after launch.
While technical details remain scarce, sources suggest that these “killer” satellites could deploy signal-jamming technology or other countermeasures to disable enemy missiles long before they reach U.S. territory.
The Golden Dome initiative proposed by Trump, if realized, would mark one of the most extensive and expensive defense programs in American history and potentially reshape the landscape of global missile defense.
(Raidi/Agung)
