Sacramento, May 21 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump unveiled on Tuesday a $175 billion missile defense initiative known as the "Golden Dome," appointing US Space Force General Michael Guetlein to spearhead what Trump characterized as a "Manhattan Project-scale" effort.

During the announcement in the Oval Office, accompanied by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Guetlein, Trump disclosed that the project aims for completion within three years and is designed to shield the entire continental United States, including Canada, from aerial threats, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

"This is a remarkable day for America," Trump proclaimed, seated next to a poster depicting the continental US in gold with artistic illustrations of missile interceptions. "The Golden Dome design will enhance our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational by the end of my term."

The ambitious project aims to establish a comprehensive network of satellites capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting incoming missiles. Trump emphasized that the system would be "capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from the opposite side of the globe or even from space."

This project marks a significant shift from the initial announcement of an "Iron Dome for America" in the first week of the administration, later renamed "Golden Dome" by the Pentagon in February, likely due to trademark issues with Israel's established Iron Dome system.

Guetlein, who previously served as the vice chief of space operations with the US Space Force, brings extensive experience in missile defense and space capabilities to the project.

In March, Guetlein described the project's scope, asserting it is "on the order of magnitude of the Manhattan Project" and would require "concerted effort from the very top of our government" and "national will to bring all this together."

The $175 billion cost announced by Trump is significantly lower than earlier Congressional Budget Office estimates, which suggested it could range from $161 billion to $542 billion over two decades, according to a Bloomberg report from May 5.

A National Research Council study conducted in 2012 estimated that the total expense for a space-based, boost-phase missile defense system could reach up to $831 billion (in 2025 dollars).

Additionally, Senator Tim Sheehy, a Republican from Montana, who is leading a "Golden Dome caucus," recently stated, "It will likely cost in the trillions if and when Golden Dome is completed," as reported by Space News.

Defense analysts have raised concerns regarding the project's technical feasibility, highlighting the challenges of scaling Israel's Iron Dome to protect a landmass approximately 400 times larger. The Israeli system primarily defends against short-range rockets and artillery, whereas the American system must contend with advanced ballistic and hypersonic missiles.

Leading contractors competing for key satellite components include SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril, which propose launching a constellation of hundreds to thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to facilitate continuous three-dimensional tracking and interception capabilities.

On Capitol Hill, congressional Republicans have moved to allocate $27 billion for Golden Dome as part of a $150 billion defense package linked to Trump's tax-cut reconciliation bill.

According to Space Force officials cited in various news outlets, the technology will heavily depend on space-based sensors and interceptors for early detection and rapid response. Advocates argue that modern technology would enhance the viability of this concept, unlike previous missile defense initiatives such as the Strategic Defense Initiative of former US President Ronald Reagan.

Critics warn that weaponizing space could ignite a new arms race and undermine long-standing arms-control treaties. Laura Grego, research director for the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the plan as "fantasy" in a statement this January, cautioning that adversaries could develop countermeasures to neutralize a space-based shield.

The organization noted that past proposals aimed at overcoming the weaknesses of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system by establishing space-based missile defenses have repeatedly been abandoned due to their expense, technical challenges, and vulnerability.

In conclusion, the group stated, "Trump's vision of a space-based missile defense is a poor investment."