Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration will move forward with developing the so-called “Golden Dome” missile defense system that he envisions will protect the United States from possible foreign strikes using ground and space-based weapons.

“Once fully constructed, the 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,” Trump said, “forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland.”

The option that Trump chooses will determine its timeline and cost. The $25bn coming from Republicans’ budget bill is only set to cover initial development costs. The final price tag could exceed $540bn over the next two decades, according to the congressional budget office.

  • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝
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    717 days ago

    IDK, it’s better that they spend money on this rather than offensive weaponry, as it has been shown that it is practically impossible to intercept hypersonic missiles in their terminal flight stage. At least it’s good for a jobs program.

    The problem is that the plan is obviously to make sure that US wars of conquest can be waged also against nuclear powers without fear of retaliation.

    • @MoonMelon@lemmy.ml
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      617 days ago

      It would be nice if our jobs programs were like the CCC instead of security theater like the TSA, “Homeland Security”, or whatever this is. At least then, at the end of it, we would have a bunch of roads, railways, bridges, housing, canals, etc instead of trillions of dollars in circuit boards and machined aluminum rotting in a missile silo.

    • @BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world
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      117 days ago

      I’m sure the initial stages will be around Sea to the Lake (Mar-a-Lago) and some of his properties (golf courses or buildings).

  • Luffy
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    118 days ago

    Isn‘t this the plot of the pilot episode of Inside job?

      • @jenni007@lemm.ee
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        214 days ago

        Reagan initiated a project nicknamed “Starwars”, a plan to bring defense into space. From the onset it was seen as too ambitious and too expensive. Parts were put in place, but it didn’t become a success.