When President Trump signed an executive order calling for the creation of an “Iron Dome for America,” it was met with skepticism and, in some cases, outright dismissal. But that reaction misses the point: America is falling behind in missile defense, and our enemies are not waiting for us to catch up.
For decades, U.S. leaders have assumed that deterrence—especially through mutually assured destruction (MAD)—would prevent adversaries from launching a nuclear attack. But that assumption is growing dangerously outdated. As one arms-control expert recently admitted, the post-Cold War framework designed to limit nuclear proliferation has “fallen apart.” The threats are real, the risks are growing, and it’s time to take missile defense seriously.
The Growing Threat from Above
It’s no secret that America’s enemies are aggressively expanding their missile programs. North Korea continues to test long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), Iran is improving its missile technology, and China and Russia are both pursuing hypersonic missile capabilities. Worse, space—once considered a domain reserved for peaceful exploration—is now a battleground.
U.S. intelligence has confirmed that China has deployed weapons capable of targeting American satellites, and in April, Russia vetoed a United Nations resolution that would have barred nuclear weapons in space. In May, U.S. officials raised alarms about Russia’s plans to deploy an anti-satellite nuclear weapon. The message is clear: The militarization of space is not a possibility—it is already happening.
What Would Happen If a Missile Were Fired at the U.S.?
Last year, journalist Annie Jacobsen’s book Nuclear War painted a chilling picture of what could happen if North Korea fired two ICBMs at the United States. The results were catastrophic—not because America had no defense, but because the defense systems in place weren’t good enough.
Currently, the U.S. has 44 ground-based interceptors (GBIs), stationed in Alaska and California, meant to shoot down incoming threats. These systems, managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), are our last line of defense. But as Jacobsen’s book highlights, they are far from reliable.
With only 44 interceptors, the U.S. has an extremely limited ability to stop an incoming attack. And the odds of stopping a missile with the existing system? Alarmingly low.
Why “Iron Dome for America” Matters
President Trump’s order to create an “Iron Dome for America” is not about copying Israel’s missile-defense system outright. It’s about applying decades of U.S. technological advancements—miniaturized computing, AI-driven targeting, and lower-cost satellite launches—to finally make space-based missile defense a reality.
Israel’s Iron Dome, built by Raytheon and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is considered one of the most effective air defense systems in the world. But it’s designed to stop smaller, shorter-range missiles, not ICBMs. Still, its success is instructive.
The system is roughly 90% effective in intercepting incoming threats, but even that leaves a 10% failure rate—meaning some missiles still get through. That’s better than nothing, but when dealing with nuclear-armed adversaries, even one failure is too many.
Lasers: The Future of Missile Defense?
One of the most promising new technologies in missile defense is Israel’s “Iron Beam” system—a high-powered laser weapon that can neutralize threats at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptors. Unlike expensive missiles, which can cost $100,000 or more per launch, laser-based defense systems rely only on electricity. The potential cost savings and rapid-response capabilities make laser defense a game-changer.
Unfortunately, the U.S. is far behind in developing these weapons. A 2024 report from the National Defense Industrial Association found that America has “no established laser weapon industrial base” and that fewer than 20 laser weapons exist, all of which were built in experimental labs. If the U.S. wants to remain a global leader in defense, that must change.
The Cost of Inaction
Critics of missile defense argue that the costs are too high. But history shows that failing to prepare is always more expensive.
Take California’s wildfire response as an example. Last year, the state cut $105 million from fire-prevention programs to save money. Months later, the state faced an economic disaster from wildfires, with damages estimated between $50 billion and $150 billion. The lesson? Cutting critical defenses to save money is short-sighted and, ultimately, far more costly.
Now, imagine the cost of failing to stop a missile attack. If a nuclear warhead were to strike an American city, the damage—human, economic, and societal—would be incalculable. The idea that missile defense is too expensive ignores the much greater price of being unprepared.
America Must Act—Now
The reality is simple: Our enemies have already militarized space. The question is whether we will act to defend ourselves.
President Trump’s executive order calls for accelerating the deployment of space-based tracking sensors—technology that could help detect and neutralize missile threats before they reach American soil. Two of these satellites, built by Northrop Grumman, are already deployed. But without further investment, America will remain vulnerable.
Skeptics have dismissed missile defense as impractical since the days of Reagan’s “Star Wars” program. But the world has changed. Hypersonic weapons, space-based threats, and rogue-state missile tests are not science fiction—they are today’s reality.
America has spent decades improving its missile-defense technology. But the job is far from finished. Until we have a system that can reliably protect our cities, military bases, and critical infrastructure, we remain at risk.
When the next missile is fired, will we be ready?
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