What if the defence against missiles started not on the ground, but hundreds of miles above our heads? Golden Dome is expected to be like this. General Chance Saltzman of the U.S. Space Force speaks openly about the US's ambitions to combat rocket threats already in their very early stages – far from the country's territory. But will these plans actually be implemented?
Golden Dome is an initiative whose roots go back to Ronald Reagan's celebrated SDI project. Today's version of the task is based on a akin principle, but already with more technologically advanced solutions – capturing ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles inactive in space. This system, according to Saltzman, they sued the maximum fast consequence and disposal of the threat inactive in the territory of the opponent, minimising the hazard to the U.S. civilian population.
From a method point of view, the capture immediately after the launch of the rocket is truly attractive from the point of view of the defending country. The missiles then decision slower, and their hot rocket engines are easy to detect and track. However, it is highly hard to implement due to the short consequence time required and the state liable for the solution must get a mastery in precision and advanced hazard detection systems developed.
Is that what the United States is for?
The United States now has a immense industrial and technological base capable of overcoming technological barriers. The pace of technology deployment – from prototypes to full operational systems – will now be highly important. The Golden Dome task is not only limited to defensive aspects, but can besides become an crucial component of strategical deterrence. The basis of the Golden Dome strategy would be within space. And that means an crucial advantage in a possible military confrontation.
The subject of space weapons is very controversial. There is simply a hazard of escalating current conflicts already at the phase of, for example, divising the anticipation of placing the strategy in orbit, especially in view of the expanding military activity of China and Russia in space. Both countries carry out advanced combat satellite testing, which the US sees as a serious threat to its own interests and global security.
Geopolitics, fool?
In consequence to China's actions in orbit, the US decides to accelerate its work on its own defence and offensive systems in space. Investments include many technologies – from ground-based jammers to space energy weapons, and even kinetic capabilities to destruct satellites.
General Saltzman is simply a strong supporter of the perception of space as a new, full domain of war activities. This is not so much a promise, but a certainty that the United States is ready to invest in a wide spectrum of anti-missile technologies that can dominate the future battlefield. And that means that we are facing fresh tensions in the global arena. Anyone else have any illusions that Russia and China will like the thought of putting American weapons in orbit?
Armour Race 2.0
The introduction of the Golden Dome raises the key question – will we accomplish greater security, or will we only get provoked enemies from the USA? Without doubt, the ability to capture missiles even before entering Earth's atmosphere would importantly reduce the hazard of rocket attacks. However, there is simply a real fear that space will become another region of active confrontation between powers.
We have global agreements on standards of action in space. However, let us remember that the findings are 1 thing and geopolitical practice is the other. There is no paper that cannot be broken. The last fewer years have proved to us that, despite the guarantees from another countries, it is possible for the weakest country to take territory from its top enemy — no consequences, actually. And despite the deal.
However, the Golden Dome is 1 of the most fascinating yet controversial initiatives in the field of defence in fresh years. Regardless of future political decisions, 1 thing is certain: space becomes a fresh arena of combat, and the future of all of us will depend on the work and knowing of the world's top powers. And that's what I'm a small afraid of...
