Why in the news?

US President has unveiled an ambitious missile defense system named as Golden Dome.

About Golden Dome

• The Golden Dome is a ground- and space-based missile defense system designed to protect all of the U.S.A.
• It will be a multi-layered defense system against hypersonic and cruise missile threats, integrating space-based interceptors and advanced tracking technologies.
  • The Dome will detect, track and stop missiles at multiple stages of flight, potentially destroying them before takeoff or intercepting them in mid-air.
• Components of the Golden Dome will be drawn from existing American missile defense assets, including Patriot missile batteries, THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, and Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD).

Concerns about Golden Dome

• Weaponization of space: China has raised the concern saying that it "heightens the risk of space becoming a battlefield" and "fueling an arms race."
• Against the spirit of Outer Space Treaty: States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner.

Comparison between different air defense systems of the world

Conclusion

The deployment of space-based interceptors, though potentially revolutionary for defense capabilities, raises legitimate concerns about adherence to international space law and the risk of triggering a new arms race. The challenge lies in balancing national security imperatives with the preservation of space as a peaceful domain for all humanity.