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Donald Trump has revealed his ambitious plans for a $175 billion 'Golden Dome' defence system that he claims will protect the US from attack.
Since his inauguration in January, Trump has signed hundreds of controversial executive orders, but this latest move might be another one for the history books.
With global tensions rising amid fears of a potential WW3 increasing, the US President plans to launch a defence programme to guard against the world’s deadliest weapons.
Although the announcement was initially slammed as the 'dumbest idea in American history,' defense insiders have argued the plan is 'long overdue,' given the amid growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia.
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Both Moscow and Beijing have launched satellites into orbit that could disable critical US satellites and leave the nation vulnerable to attack.
And yes, while a dome solution might sound like the plot of The Simpsons Movie, this is all very real.
On 27 January, Trump signed an executive order directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to push the plan forward. "Golden Dome will be fielded in phases, prioritising defense where the threat is greatest," Hegseth added, promising that the completed system will protect the US from 'cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they're conventional or nuclear.'
Officials from the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) backed up the move in a recent report, warning that America's opposition already exist and will only 'expand in scale and sophistication in the coming decade.'
One unclassified DIA report found that China and Russia 'are developing an array of novel delivery systems,' that may slip through current defences.
Meanwhile, North Korea has already proven it can hit anywhere in the US, and Iran might not be far behind.
Former US Navy rear admiral Mark Montgomery said that a Golden Dome is 'absolutely necessary.' He told FOX News: "Over the last 20 years our adversaries have seen that we were unwilling to make the investments in missile defence so cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missile and then drones."
According to Montgomery, the 'axis of aggressors' (namely Russia, China, Iran and North Korea) are aware of America's vulnerability and are 'exploiting it, so this kind of defence system is necessary.'
Last Tuesday (20 May), Trump announced that the Golden Dome would provide 'close to 100 percent protection' of the US and is 'very important for the success and even survival of our country.' He added that it would be delivered within two and a half to three years, before his presidential term ends.
"I'm pleased to announce that we have officially selected an architecture for this state-of-the-art system that will deploy next-generation technologies across the land, sea and space, including space-based sensors and interceptors," Trump said.
"Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they're launched from space. And we will have the best system ever built."
