Today, Explained Donald Trump's "Golden Dome"
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Jun 3, 2025 
Audrey Decker, a Defense One reporter focused on national security, and Ankit Panda, a nuclear policy expert at the Carnegie Endowment, discuss President Trump's ambitious "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative. They explore its historical roots and the technical hurdles it faces. The conversation highlights the geopolitical implications of this new nuclear strategy, particularly tense dynamics with nations like Russia and China. They also analyze the risks posed by escalating military capabilities in South Asia and the shifting landscape of nuclear threats.
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Golden Dome Shield Complexity
- The Golden Dome missile defense shield aims to protect the U.S. from nuclear and hypersonic missile threats from anywhere, including space.
- Scaling such a system to cover the entire U.S. is far more complex and expensive than Israel's smaller Iron Dome system.
Boost-Phase Interceptor Challenges
- While missile defense technology exists, boost-phase interceptors in space are extremely difficult due to physics and timing.
- Thousands of interceptors would be needed in space to effectively shoot missiles down, making it financially and technically challenging.
Golden Dome Changes Nuclear Deterrence
- Currently, the U.S. has limited missile defense against nuclear attacks, relying mainly on ground-based interceptors.
- Golden Dome would shift deterrence by enabling the U.S. to block a first nuclear strike and retaliate without fear of counterstrike.
