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The Executive Order of President Donald Trump, entitled “The iron dome for America“calls for renewing our rocket defense options, which the President labels” the most catastrophic threat for the United States. ”
However, there are important challenges to overcome if we have to use something similar Israëls multi -praised air defense network Because the threat for America is very different.
Nowadays we are confronted with real threats such as intercontinental ballistic missiles of nuclear tip (ICBM) that have been launched from countries such as China and Russia, which could endanger the entire United States. During the Cold War (1948-1991) with the Soviet Union we tackled that threat with our doctrine of ‘mutual insured destruction’. If Moscow attacked us with long -distance nuclear missiles, we would take revenge on an overwhelming number of similar weapons that would result in the destruction of both nations. That doctrine worked because it caused fear of fear on both sides.
The executive Order of President Donald Trump requires the renewal of our rocket defense capacities. (Reuters)
Our challenge today is more complicated than during the Cold War because we are confronted with several enemies that form a wide range of threats in the air. In particular, nation state are opponents such as Russia, China, Noord -Korea and Iran All have or develop nuclear systems on long distance that endanger the US. There are also a large number of terrorist groups with access to advanced technologies such as drones and rockets that threaten our overseas interests and perhaps our home country.
5 things to know about President Donald Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’ plan for America
Furthermore, many of these weapons are led by systems-based systems, making them more precise and in various difficulties to be defended, Hypersonic missiles that are difficult to follow, ballistic missiles with multiple nuclear heads, drones of drones of drones, drones of many Sizes and possibilities, cruise rockets in the sea and more.
Unfortunately, America’s ability to defend the home country against such a series of air threats, frankly, is limited, which explains Trump’s order to tackle the issue immediately.
Let us put that task in perspective by considering the Israeli air defense model.
Trump calls us To build something that looks like Israel’s “iron dome” to defend America against an abundance of threats. It is understandable that it is his wish to protect America against attacks such as the Iran launched in Israel in 2024, where almost all projectiles were brought down before they hit the Jewish state.
The effective, three -part air defense network of Israel includes the iron dome, which is designed to stop rockets at a short distance and artillery scales launched from the Gaza Strip.
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The second layer is Davids Sling, which is intended to intercept ballistic and cruise rockets, such as those of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The third layer is known as Arrow 3, which intercepts missiles that fly outside the atmosphere of the earth, such as long-distance missiles launched by Houthi militants in Yemen or that Iran was attacked in 2024.
Although the three -part network of Israel performed well in 2024, it is not necessarily the right model for the United States. There are three important differences.
Firstly, the US is different from Israel, which has built its network to defend against mainly drones, artillery and cruise rockets launched from a neighboring country. It is unlikely that the US will be attacked by Canada or Mexico. Instead, every air raid will probably include ICBMs or rockets/drones of ships or submarines off our coasts.
Secondly, Israel is a very small country, about 8,630 square miles or the size of New Jersey. The US is 440 times as large as Israel with population centers and sensitive places spread over this vast country. Defending our entire landscape against all air threats would be incredibly expensive, especially if it was done on the scale that was seen in Israel.
What is the first line of defense of Israel, The Iron Dome?
Thirdly, the US has a variety of air defense systems in its inventory, which are not seen in Israel. Yes, we have an anti-ICBM system in Alaska and California with 44 rockets. However, that system is mainly focused on the threat of North Korea. Our other systems are for fixed site distributions that are usually used outside the United States.
These movable systems include the AEGIS-Ballist missile system, which is based and designed at sea to intercept ballistic missiles during the midcourse or terminal phases of the flight. We make a variety of location-specific systems such as the MIM-104 Patriot, able to involve ballistic and cruise rockets.
The Terminal High Height Area Defense (Thaad) intercepts ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of the flight. The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles System (Nasams) is an air defense with Medium-Range, which has been part of the air defense system of the American National Capital since 2005.
There are also other tactical platforms such as the Avenger Air Defense System, FIM-92 Stinger and the Maneuvre-Short Range Air Defense (M-Shorad).
Just like other countries, the US is working on targeted energy management (lasers) and other counters for cheap antisystems against drones and rockets too.
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The task for the Pentagon It is finding the right mix of air defense platforms, the right doctrine and an effective defense strategy to satisfy Trump. This effort begins by assessing the threat against very specific domestic sites and giving priority to the placement of our capacities and accepting risk elsewhere.
We also have to develop something that resembles the doctrine of the Cold War of mutually insured destruction, so that our nuclear armed enemies understand the risk for them when they consider launching weapons against us.
Finally, the air defense strategy that is sketched on the subject in the facts of the White House remembers something that is related to the “Star Wars” initiative of President Ronald Reagan, formally called the Strategic Defense Initiative, which was dependent on spaces- Based sensors and interceptors. At the time, it was so thoroughly led to the Soviets and it led to similarities that are the nuclear threat of temples, such as the Convention of the Intermediary Range Nuclear Forces and the Conversations of Strategic Weapons.
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In reality, Reagan’s Star Wars programJust like Trump’s proposal “Iron Dome”, was intended to protect the US against air threats. At the time, the Reagan program was intended to make nuclear weapons superfluous. That effort failed.
Trump’s 2025 program, on the other hand, is more pragmatic and more achievable. After all, he strives to make America safer from most air threats by entering an American version of Israel’s ‘iron dome’. Perhaps that is very ambitious and it can be quite expensive, but in this time of exploding air threats it is a national security need that is worth a serious consideration.
