President Trump Signs Executive Order to Develop "Iron Dome" Air Defense System for the United States
Introduction
On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to start planning for an "Iron Dome" air defense system for the United States, similar to the system used by Israel to intercept thousands of rockets. The order requires the defense secretary to submit an implementation plan within 60 days for the "next-generation missile defense shield" designed to protect against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles, including the development of space-based interceptors.
Background
During the 2024 election campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to build a version of Israel’s Iron Dome system for the United States. However, he ignored the fact that the system is designed for short-range threats, making it ill-suited to defending against intercontinental missiles, which are the main danger to the United States.
The Need for a Next-Generation Missile Defense Shield
According to the executive order, "over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex, citing unnamed adversaries’ development of missile launch capabilities. The order emphasizes the need for a next-generation missile defense shield that can address these evolving threats.
Israel’s Iron Dome System
Israel has used its "Iron Dome" system to shoot down rockets fired by its regional foes Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon during the war sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Trump highlighted the effectiveness of the system, stating that "they knock down just about every one of them. So I think the United States is entitled to that."
Other Military-Related Orders
In addition to the "Iron Dome" executive order, the president signed several other orders related to the US military on Monday, including one setting the path for transgender people to be banned from the armed forces.
Conclusion
The signing of the executive order marks a significant step towards developing a next-generation missile defense shield for the United States. While the "Iron Dome" system has been effective in Israel, its limitations make it ill-suited for defending against intercontinental missiles, which are the main threat to the United States. It remains to be seen how the US will adapt and improve its missile defense capabilities to address these evolving threats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the "Iron Dome" system?
A: The "Iron Dome" system is a short-range missile defense system developed by Israel to intercept rockets and missiles.
Q: Why is the "Iron Dome" system unsuitable for defending against intercontinental missiles?
A: The "Iron Dome" system is designed to intercept short-range threats, making it ill-suited for defending against intercontinental missiles, which are the main danger to the United States.
Q: What is the next-generation missile defense shield?
A: The next-generation missile defense shield is a system designed to protect against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles, including the development of space-based interceptors.