Interceptor missile


THINK


TANK An Occasional Series


U.S. Can Have Missile Shield Without Waiting


10 Years Deploy Israel’s highly successful missile interceptor now while we build a next- generation system.


by fred fleitz


THE PROBLEM THE U.S. LACKS A MISSILE DEFENSE SHIELD TO PROTECT IT FROM BALLISTIC, HYPERSONIC, AND CRUISE MISSILES. BUILDING ONE COULD TAKE 10 YEARS


to defend the U.S. homeland — the Golden Dome, a next-generation missile defense shield to be “all made in the USA.” Trump noted that President Ron-


D


ald Reagan had wanted to build such a system in the 1980s, but the tech- nology wasn’t available. He said we now have the technol-


ogy, Israel has such a system, and the United States should have it, too. Trump signed an executive order


on Jan. 27 stating that the threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles and other advanced aerial attacks is “the most cata- strophic threat facing the U.S.” The executive order directed the


secretary of defense to prepare a plan within 60 days to develop a next- generation missile defense shield to


38 NEWSMAX | JUNE 2025


uring President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress, he announced a crucial new initiative


defend our country from this threat. The reaction to Trump’s call to


develop a Golden Dome missile shield has been positive but cautious. Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief


of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, said this project “will require a whole-of-government effort on par with the Manhattan Project to devel- op the atomic bomb.” Other U.S. military officials


raised concerns about legal, techni- cal, and cultural hurdles, as well as the need to develop new and novel technologies. It is hard to see how U.S. defense


firms can deploy a Golden Dome missile shield in less than 10 years. Deploying a Golden Dome before Trump leaves office is probably impossible.


THE SOLUTION THERE IS A WAY TO DEFEND OUR NATION AGAINST MISSILE ATTACKS NOW


interceptor systems and implement a longer-term project to build a next-


T


rump could immediately start deploying Israel’s highly successful Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 missile


generation Golden Dome missile defense system for the next decade. The Arrow system is one of the


most sophisticated air defense sys- tems in the world. It is designed to intercept medium- and long-range missiles. The Arrow system employs an advanced radar system that detects incoming projectiles and destroys them with hypersonic interceptors. Its interceptors are part of Israel’s


layered missile defense system that protects against a range of missiles from short-range rockets to long- range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and fly a high suborbital trajectory. The Arrow 2 travels at hyperson-


ic speeds to intercept ballistic mis- siles at high and low altitudes. The Arrow 3 is a similar interceptor that destroys ballistic missiles during the spaceflight portion of their trajecto- ries, including intercontinental bal- listic missiles (ICBMs). Israel, with U.S. assistance, is devel-


oping the Arrow 4, which Israel’s Defense Ministry said will be a next- generation interceptor that will replace the Arrow 2 over the next two decades.


3 Interceptors


Missile’s rader seeker guides it towards target


1


Detection and tracking radar


Detects rocket or artillery launch and monitors its trajectory


ILLUSTRATION©REUTERS


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