With Donald Trump at the helm, the Golden Dome reawakens Reagan’s old dream of an omnipotent technological shield, reinvented for the age of AI and orbital warfare. Framed as an “impenetrable” system, the ambitious programme aims to transform the US territory into an impregnable fortress, thanks to an integrated architecture that fuses space sensors, multidomain interceptors and massive data processing. But behind this quest for defensive supremacy lies a high-risk mechanism: reigniting nuclear rivalries, sidestepping space law and splintering strategic dialogue. The Golden Dome is more than just a technological project: it’s a doctrinal rupture with planetary repercussions – a bold gamble that risks propelling the planet head-first into conflict.
Download the Focus Paper 51Research line: Defence capabilities and technologies
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