Trump orders Iron Dome design preparations within 60 days
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Pete Hegseth has been tasked with preparing the Iron Dome design to counter missile and aerial attack threats.
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A battery of Israel's Iron Dome defense missile system, deployed to intercept rockets, sits in Asqalan, southern occupied Palestine, on August 7, 2022. (AP)
US President Donald Trump has ordered his Security of State, Pete Hegseth, to submit a design for an Iron Dome missile system for the United States within 60 days.
The executive order issued by the resident said, "Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall: (a) Submit to the President a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense shield."
According to the document, the architecture will feature plans to counter ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles, expedite the launch of space-based sensors for hypersonic and ballistic tracking, and create interceptors capable of neutralizing missiles during their boost phase.
The directive highlights that missile and advanced air attacks remain the most catastrophic threat to the United States.
On his inauguration day, Trump stated his intention to direct the armed forces to develop and construct the Iron Dome missile defense system, emphasizing that strengthening national defense would be a top priority for his administration.
'More fragile than glass'
It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation is known for its Iron Dome system. However, its recent wars on Lebanon and Gaza, as well as missile attacks from Yemen and Iran, proved its fragility.
Over the course of a year, the Iron Dome repeatedly failed to intercept Yemeni ballistic missiles targeting Tel Aviv in support of Gaza. Remarkably, Iran's True Promise operations also managed to overwhelm the Iron Dome system, successfully penetrating occupied airspace with minimal deterrence.
In this context, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian undermined the system, saying "Iran's Armed Forces have once again demonstrated that the defense system of the Israeli occupation regime is more fragile than glass."
Read more: Did an Israeli Iron Dome missile cause the Majdal Shams massacre?
