 "Trump orders Israel-like 'Iron Dome' missile defence shield for US")
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to build a missile shield for the United States that he has dubbed ‘Iron Dome’.
The Iron Dome is one of the air defence systems of Israel that is part of its multi-layered air defence network. Since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, the Iron Dome and other Israeli air defence systems have been critical in safeguarding Israelis from thousands of rockets and missiles launched by Hamas, Iran, and other Iran-backed groups in the region like Hezbollah and Houthis.
As per the executive order, the Secretary of Defense would be required to submit the architecture of the missile shield and its projected budget in the next 60 days. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth would also be required to submit an updated assessment of the strategic missile threat to the United States and a prioritised set of locations to progressively defend from nuclear-armed adversaries.
Trump said that the Iron Dome would fulfil the unfinished agenda that former President Ronald Regan began.
In the executive order, Trump said that Regan endeavored to build an effective defense against nuclear attacks, and while this program resulted in many technological advances, it was canceled before its goal could be realised.
What do we know of US Iron Dome?
Even though the name ‘Iron Dome for America’ suggests it to be a one system, the executive order suggests it would be a multi-layered network.
The US Iron Dome will provide common air defence to all Americans by deploying and maintaining the next-generation missile defence shield; deter attacks and defend critical infrastructure from attacks on mainland America; and guaranteeing scond-strike capability, according to the executive order.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe executive order states that the missile shield would include the following:
Defence against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries
Acceleration of the deployment of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer, a satellite-based system in the making to track launches of missiles across the world so they could be neutralised timely
Development and deployment of proliferated space-based interceptors capable of boost-phase intercept
Deployment of underlayer and terminal-phase intercept capabilities postured to defeat a countervalue attack
Development and deployment of a custody layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture
Development and deployment of capabilities to defeat missile attacks prior to launch and in the boost phase;
Development and deployment of a secure supply chain for all components with next-generation security and resilience features
Development and deployment of non-kinetic capabilities to augment the kinetic defeat of ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks
As per the executive order, the United States would continue to cooperate on missile defence with partners and allies.
Following the submission to the President of the next-generation missile defense reference architecture under section of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall direct a review of theater missile defense posture and initiatives to identify ways in which the United States and its allies and partners can, said the executive order.
Before signing the executive order, Trump said at a Republican Party’s event in Florida that he was looking forward to have an Israel-like missile shield that would be made completely in the United States.
“Now we have phenomenal technology. You see that with Israel. So I think the United States is entitled to that. And everything will be made right here in the USA. 100 per cent. We’re going next to ensure that we have the most lethal fighting force in the world,” said Trump, as per Fox News.
What is Israel’s Iron Dome?
Israel’s Iron Dome is one of the air-defence systems that the country uses to protect its airspace.
The Iron Dome is a short-range air defence against rockets and smaller projectiles. It has a range of up to 70 kilometres and it can take down rockets up to the height of 10 kms. For larger projectiles at more height and longer distance, Israel uses David’s Sling and Arrow air defence systems.
David’s Sling is meant for medium- to long-range missiles with the range of up to 300 kms at the height of up to 15 kms. Arrow is meant for long-range missiles with the range of up to 2,400 kms at the height of up to 100 kms.
One notable difference between the Israeli’s air defence mechanism and that of the United States would be of scale. While Israel has to secure a much smaller area, just the size of US state of New Jersey, the US missile shield would need to cover almost half of the North American continent.
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