US Golden Dome Missile Defense System Could Cost Around $1.2 Trillion Over 20 Years

WASHINGTON, May 13. /TASS/. Total spending on the development, deployment and operation of the US Golden Dome missile defense system could amount to around $1.2 trillion, the Congressional Budget Office said in a report. The development, deployment and operation over 20 years of a national missile defense system with capabilities generally consistent with those outlined in the executive order would cost approximately $1.2 trillion, the report said. According to the agency’s estimates, the largest expenses would be related to weapons procurement, amounting to around $1.03 trillion. The most expensive component would be space-based interceptor systems, accounting for around 70% of weapons procurement costs (or about 60% of total expenditures). As stated in the report, the creation of Golden Dome includes deployment of an orbital constellation of 7,800 satellites, maintenance of the existing missile defense base area in Fort Greely (Alaska), and construction of two additional sites with early-warning radar stations and 120 interceptor missiles. In addition, Golden Dome is expected to include four ground-based Aegis Ashore missile defense complexes in the continental United States, each equipped with 48 SM-3 Block IIA missiles. Another element of Golden Dome will consist of 35 missile defense sectors equipped with SM-3 Block IIA and SM-6 Block IB missiles, Patriot PAC-3 MSE and THAAD systems, as well as prospective Glide Phase Interceptor systems for intercepting hypersonic missiles.