Keeping up with his election promise, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to develop an Iron Dome-like missile shield that has been used by Israel to fend off thousands of rockets during the Middle East crisis last year. Trump also signed other defence-related executive orders, including one directing a policy to be formed for transgender troops, according to Fox News.
The flurry of orders, which Trump signed on a flight to Washington, signals the importance the new administration has attached to defence. Of them, Trump’s directive to “immediately begin the construction” of a missile defence shield has generated interest at a time when China has made rapid advancements in warfare capabilities.
Speaking on the air defence system at a Republican dinner in Florida, Trump said it would be made from scratch in the US. “Americans protect other countries, but we don’t protect ourselves… And now we have phenomenal technology. You see that with Israel,” the report quoted Trump as saying.
Trump claimed that former US President Ronald Reagan was interested in having an Iron Dome-like system during the Cold War with the Soviets, but Americans “didn’t have the technology”.
“They (Iron Dome) knock down just about every one of them. The United States is entitled to that. And everything will be made right here in the USA 100%,” he said. The fiery Republican has ordered Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to submit an implementation plan for the missile shield within 60 days.
Designed to ward off ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, the Iron Dome has been Israel’s first line of defence for some years now. Israel claims that it has a 90 per cent success rate. Its effectiveness was seen last year during the Middle East crisis as it repelled a barrage of missiles from Iran, Lebanon and Syria.
Interestingly, the Iron Dome was developed for Israel with US support. While the US has its own air defence system, known as the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (Thaad), it cannot counter short-range threats such as drones.
The Thaad can intercept missiles in their last stage of flight, at a range of 150-200 km. The Iron Dome, meanwhile, can ward off short-range rockets, shells and mortars at a range of 4-70 km.
Two other orders signed by Trump on Monday included removal of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from the military and reinstating Army personnel who were ousted for refusing Covid vaccines during the pandemic.
