In 2025, President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order to kick off the construction of the United States’ “next-generation” missile defense system. This executive order calls for the construction of the American “Iron Dome” defense system, borrowing the name from Israel’s renowned short-range missile defense system.
According to introduction materials obtained by the CNN, the executive order will direct the deployment of the next-generation missile defense system in the United States to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation air attacks. The order labels such potential attacks as “catastrophic threats”.
The executive order urges the adoption of a series of advanced space-based systems to detect and intercept incoming projectiles targeting the United States, but it does not disclose the cost of the defense system or outline its development timeline.
During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to instruct the military to emulate Israel’s “Iron Dome” model and construct an “indestructible Iron Dome for the United States to protect our people.” Trump stated that the new system will be entirely manufactured in the United States.
The United States has already deployed a range of missile defense systems, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System on naval vessels, the Patriot missile defense system, and ground-based interceptors.
However, the U.S. Department of Defense has struggled to develop a system that can provide defense for the entire United States. Considering that the U.S. territory is much larger than Israel’s, any defense system aiming to cover the entire U.S. would need to far exceed the coverage range of Israel’s “Iron Dome” system.
Israel’s most active and well-known air defense system is the “Iron Dome”. Since 2011, the Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza. However, the “Iron Dome” is designed for short-range missiles and drones, with a range varying from 4 kilometers to 70 kilometers, making it one of Israel’s various advanced missile defense systems.
The “Iron Dome” is considered to have a 90% success rate in interception.