Jin Ding – Trump’s “Star Wars” Plan in Current Military Affairs

The United States is emphasizing the value of the Space Force and the Air Force, believing that these two branches determine America’s ability to deter equal competitors in the future, and even determine whether the future will be dominated by China or the United States. In particular, the construction of space attack and defense systems, the United States plans to ambitiously deploy the “Golden Dome” defense system in space.

On March 19, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated at the Air Force Summit held at Andrews Joint Base in Maryland that the Air Force and Space Force will play a crucial role in deterring adversaries and participating in future military conflicts. He said, “Our next-generation air power and air projection capabilities will be the decisive factor in whether we can truly deter 21st-century peers.” This is the inevitable outcome of the threat posed by China, and senior leaders of the US military must make decisions on implementing, utilizing, and matching these threats. He hopes the US military will be aware of this sense of urgency at all times, as it will determine whether “we live in a century dominated by the US or by China (the CCP).”

Hegseth stated that the next and most important area of warfare will be space. The US government will increase investment in this area, whether in offensive or defensive capabilities, as it is where the US relies on to maintain its superiority.

Among the top priorities in the development of the space domain in the US is the space defense system. Earlier this month, President Trump informed Congress that the US will deploy the Golden Dome air defense system designed to defend against missile attacks.

This is a missile defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, but unlike the Iron Dome, the Golden Dome defense system is a much larger project that will be established in space. It is a broader space-based defense system that will target missile threats from anywhere in the world, particularly intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear capabilities.

On March 18, Steven J. Morani, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment at the Pentagon, stated at the McCarthy Defense Program Conference in Washington that the Department of Defense is collaborating with partner agencies such as the Missile Defense Agency and various branches of the military to achieve this goal. Morani mentioned that they are working with the industrial sector to build a supply chain related to the “Golden Dome” project.

In the 1980s, President Reagan proposed the famous Strategic Defense Initiative, aiming to establish a similar operational system. However, the technology at that time was not sufficient to realize such a complex project. The Golden Dome project can be seen as a new version of the Star Wars program in the Trump era.

According to the White House statement, this overarching Golden Dome covering the US is a more precise defense system capable of countering various missile threats, including hypersonic missiles. It will involve the development and deployment of space surveillance sensors, advanced space interceptors, and a space combat architecture, dedicated to intercepting or destroying enemy missiles before or during launch. The Golden Dome project is considered a revitalization of US missile defense, fundamentally enhancing the US military’s response capabilities to external attacks.

Morani stated that this is a daunting challenge involving significant system integration issues, requiring multi-level close cooperation among large teams and institutions. These priorities include restoring warrior spirit, rebuilding the military through threat-matching and capability rebuilding, as well as enhancing deterrence in defending the homeland.

Morani mentioned that if potential adversaries know of your robust logistical capabilities… and know you intend to cooperate long-term, they are less likely to engage in hostile actions, as they realize they will not only be at a disadvantage in terms of weapons and mobility, but also in terms of supplies.

With the continuous development of potential rivals in the space domain, especially the unrestrained development of space offensive weapons by China and Russia, US space assets face threats. This implies that the Golden Dome missile defense system is not just a simple defense system; it must inevitably consider countermeasures when under attack. As the White House statement indicates, it also involves advanced space interceptors and space combat.

The US Space Force was established in Trump’s first term in 2019. Four years later, as President Trump returns to the White House, the security situation in space has undergone some troubling changes. China and Russia seem to have made progress in anti-satellite weapons.

Recently, observers noticed Chinese satellites engaging in maneuvers in orbit resembling “aerial combat.” Although the exercise itself was not aggressive, it raised concerns about Beijing’s potential interference or damage to space assets.

On March 9, Deputy Commander of the US Space Force Space Operations, Michael Guetlein, stated, “We observed five distinct objects in space maneuvering synchronously and controlled in a manner we say space ‘dogfighting’. They (China) are demonstrating tactics, techniques, and procedures for space maneuvering from one satellite to another.”

The increasing capabilities of US strategic adversaries have Washington worried. US officials have also accused Russia of jamming US military satellite signals and deploying “Matryoshka” satellites capable of tracking US counterparts and implying they could be used to destroy US space assets. However, it is generally believed that from a long-term perspective, the threat from China is greater.

However, in the field of space interception and space combat, the US seems to have been laying the groundwork for a long time. Russia and China are not prepared for this, even though they are vigorously developing space weapons.

The X-37B, initially developed by NASA in 1999, has completed numerous long-duration experiments and test missions in orbit. These classified space missions have ranged from several months to over two years.

These tests indicate that the US military can deploy new technologies and operational systems in space, and this mature space capability is essential for maintaining technological and tactical superiority in space. These capabilities include space situational awareness, space maneuvering, maintainability, and survivability.

Space situational awareness involves the capability to detect, track, and identify objects in space. Various sensors can be used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. Operating in low Earth orbit can gather high-resolution images and other data on areas of interest. These technologies are crucial for monitoring potential threats like enemy satellites, missiles, and ensuring the security of space assets.

Space maneuvering technology enables altering the operational orbit of spacecraft in space using atmospheric drag while conserving fuel. The agility and flexibility of the X-37B is an incredible capability. It means that the US Space Force can achieve space combat using these capabilities, even though the Pentagon has never stated that the X-37B has the capability to engage in space combat using electromagnetic spectrum or kinetic weapons, or plans to develop such capabilities. However, even those without a complex technical background can assess that the X-37B is already a platform capable of these capabilities. This capability has long surpassed the level of co-orbiting satellites like the Russian “Matryoshka” and Chinese satellites.

The X-37B program is continuously evolving, and the Golden Dome project will push forward and benefit from the development of the X-37B. It will play a critical role in the US Space Force’s efforts to maintain its dominant position in space.