In a Tuesday’s high-profile announcement at the White House, President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a large-scale missile defense system to protect the United States from foreign threats, including North Korea.

Dubbed the “Golden Dome,” the initiative has drawn comparisons to President Ronald Reagan’s 1980s-era Strategic Defense Initiative, often referred to as “Star Wars,” which was ultimately abandoned due to feasibility and cost concerns.

According to a report confirmed by ABC News, three U.S. officials disclosed preliminary details about the plan ahead of Trump’s announcement.

The president was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Michael Guetlein, the Pentagon’s Vice Chief of Space Operations, during the presentation. Guetlein has been tapped to lead the Golden Dome project.

“This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term,” Trump stated during the announcement.

“So we’ll have it done in about three years. Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space.”

The initiative appears to be inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, which successfully intercepted missiles and drones during Iranian attacks in 2024.

Trump reportedly became a vocal proponent of a similar U.S.-based defense shield after witnessing Iron Dome’s performance.

Despite this, U.S. military officials previously indicated there was no immediate need for such a system, citing the country’s existing missile defense infrastructure and geographic advantages, including its neighboring countries and natural oceanic barriers.

Nonetheless, Trump’s advocacy for what he called “the greatest dome of them all” gained traction among his supporters, becoming a frequent topic at campaign rallies.

The Republican Party ultimately included the missile shield proposal in its 2024 platform. Trump formalized the initiative with an executive order signed on January 27, tasking Defense Secretary Hegseth with overseeing its development.

“The threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks, remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States,” Trump wrote in the executive order.

In recent months, the Department of Defense has mobilized significant resources to evaluate and plan the system.

“The Defense Department has gathered the brightest minds and best technical talent available to review a full range of options that consider current U.S. missile defense technology and cutting-edge innovation to rapidly develop and field a dependable umbrella of protection for our homeland,” said Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman and senior adviser to Hegseth.

The cost of the Golden Dome remains a subject of debate.

Defense analysts estimate that its total expense could range from tens of billions to several hundred billion dollars, depending on the final scope and technological approach.

As the project moves forward, it is expected to face scrutiny over both feasibility and necessity.