Trump picks US$175 billion ‘Golden Dome’ missile shield to counter China, Russia
US Space Force general will lead the ambitious missile shield programme involving a network of satellites
02:48
Trump unveils Golden Dome defence system to counter Russian, Chinese missile threats
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had selected a design for the US$175-billion Golden Dome missile defence shield and named a Space Force general to head the ambitious programme aimed at blocking threats from China and Russia.
The programme, first ordered by Trump in January, aims to create a network of satellites, perhaps numbering in the hundreds, to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming missiles.
Trump told a White House press conference that US Space Force General Michael Guetlein would be the lead programme manager for an effort widely viewed as the keystone to Trump’s military planning.
Golden Dome will “protect our homeland,” Trump said, adding that Canada had said it wanted to be part of it.
In a statement, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he and his ministers were discussing a new security and economic relationship with their American counterparts.