Overview

• President Trump announced the selection of the final architecture for the Golden Dome missile defense system, with a projected total cost of $175 billion.
• The system would mark the first deployment of U.S. weapons in space, designed to intercept missiles at all phases of flight, including midcourse in space.
• General Michael Guetlein of the U.S. Space Force has been named to lead the program, which is currently in the conceptual stage with requirements still being drafted.
• An initial $25 billion funding request has been made, though broader funding remains uncertain as Congress debates the proposed tax bill.
• Canada has expressed interest in participating in the system, which draws inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome but is vastly scaled for continental defense.