The Big Story 

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.

© The Hill, Greg Nash

His announcement, made Tuesday in the Oval Office, defies earlier predictions for the price tag and timeline to field Golden Dome.

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.

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 “two and a half to three years” — an astounding pace. 

“This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term. So we’ll have it done in about three years,” Trump said. “Once 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.”

Trump added that Canada will be included in the effort. 

Golden Dome, first ordered by Trump in January, is poised to receive $25 billion to jump-start the purported missile defense system that would create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming ballistic missiles. 

But that initial $25 billion, part of the GOP’s reconciliation bill, remains uncertain as hard-line GOP conservatives and moderate Republicans on Tuesday continued to hold out on allowing the House to pass the legislation, demanding certain changes be made.

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 to develop, according to the Congressional Budget Office.    

The program’s high price tag and advanced technology — much of which has yet to be developed or fielded — has already drawn political scrutiny and questions as to how it will be funded moving forward.  

It’s likely that many early systems involved would come from existing production lines, with L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon as potential contractors.

Trump also repeatedly said the system will be entirely made in the U.S.

Golden Dome also has been criticized as unnecessary, 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.

Asked whether military commanders had requested the system, Trump said he “suggested it, and they all said, ‘We love the idea, sir.’”

Read the full report at TheHill.com.

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