Trump Announces Creation of US 'Iron Dome' in Major Shift in US Missile Policy

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Department of Defense to begin constructing a “next-generation missile defense shield” similar to Israel’s Iron Dome. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth thanked Trump for leading the Iron Dome initiative, construction of which is set to begin immediately.

President Trump has previously claimed he would lead the construction of a missile defense system where he to become president. 

Citing similar failed initiatives in the past, such as President Ronald Reagan’s programs to defend the US from nuclear attacks, Trump claimed it was time to create an effective missile defense program. 

“We protect other countries but we do not protect our own,” said Trump. “You see that with Israel, where out of 319 rockets they knock down just about every one of them, so I think the US is entitled to that.”

The creation of a missile defense system shifts the US’ ballistic missile defense system away from Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), where the US’ possession of nuclear weapons was considered to be sufficient to deter nuclear attacks from other states. 

While critics state that the missile defense system is unnecessary and costly, supporters of the idea allege the proliferation of nuclear weapons across the world and the advancement of hypersonic missiles requires the creation of an Iron Dome. 

Hudson Institute military expert Rebecca Heinrichs lauded the idea, explaining it would serve to deter attacks on US critical infrastructure.

“Trump is particularly right about the need to upgrade the U.S. missile defense shield by adding an interceptor layer,” said Heinrichs. 

Heinrichs continued, claiming the Iron Dome system should be focused on protecting “the most critical areas in the US from Chinese and Russian missile threats” that would intimidate the US away from aiding allies across the world. 

The cost of the Iron Dome is yet to be determined, but experts allege it would cost around $2.5 trillion if designed to be as effective and extensive as Israel’s Iron Dome.