President Trump says his ambitious, multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile defense shield would only cost $175 billion to build and be ready in less than three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His announcement, made Tuesday in the Oval Office, defies earlier predictions<\/strong> for the price tag and timeline to field Golden Dome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump said the U.S. had officially selected the architecture for the system, an effort which will be led by Vice Chief of Space Operations Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The president also declared it would cost just $175 billion, far below previous estimates to develop, build and field the technology needed for system. In addition, he said it would be completed before his second term ends, in \u201ctwo and a half to three years\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 an astounding pace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term<\/strong>. So we\u2019ll have it done in about three years,\u201d Trump said. \u201cOnce fully constructed, Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump added that Canada will be included<\/strong> in the effort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Golden Dome, first ordered by Trump in January, is poised to receive $25 billion to jump-start<\/strong> the purported missile defense system that would create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming ballistic missiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But that initial $25 billion, part of the GOP\u2019s reconciliation bill<\/u><\/a>, remains uncertain<\/strong> as hard-line GOP conservatives and moderate Republicans on Tuesday continued to hold out<\/u><\/a> on allowing the House to pass the legislation, demanding certain changes be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, $25 billion is just the tip of the iceberg in funding the system, which is estimated to cost the U.S. more than $500 billion over 20 years<\/strong> to develop, according to the Congressional Budget Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The program\u2019s high price tag and advanced technology \u2014 much of which has yet to be developed or fielded \u2014 has already drawn political scrutiny<\/strong> and questions as to how it will be funded moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s likely that many early systems involved would come from existing production lines,<\/strong> with L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon as potential contractors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump also repeatedly said the system will be entirely made in the U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Golden Dome also has been criticized as unnecessary<\/strong>, as the U.S. already protects itself from any potential incoming missiles via a network of systems such as radars and ground-based interceptors, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, a short- to medium-range, ground-based air defense system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n