One week into his presidency, Donald Trump shocked the world by announcing plans to create a missile defence shield for the United States, dubbing it the “Iron Dome for America”. This new system, designed to protect against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles, is reminiscent of Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defence Initiative, also known as “Star Wars”. While Reagan’s dream of a comprehensive missile shield was largely unattainable due to technical and financial constraints, advancements in missile defence technology have made significant progress in recent years.
The US and Israel have collaborated on missile defence research, with successful tests in combat situations in Ukraine and Israel. However, the challenges posed by modern long-range missiles with decoys and hypersonic speeds require new networks, capabilities, and weapons to effectively intercept and destroy incoming threats. The creation of the US Space Force has added a new dimension to missile defence, with plans for space-based interceptors and laser technology to neutralize threats in the boost phase of a missile’s flight.
While the development of a missile defence shield is a monumental task, it raises concerns about the potential for an arms race and the destabilization of the balance of power. The offensive capabilities included in Trump’s executive order suggest a shift towards preemptive strikes, which could provoke adversaries to enhance their own weapons programmes. The implications of a robust missile defence system on global security and the delicate balance of mutually assured destruction are significant, highlighting the increasing dangers of modern warfare.