US Requires 7,800 Satellites for Golden Dome Air Defence System

Moscow (ANTARA) - The United States would need to launch a constellation of 7,800 satellites at a cost of $743 billion (approximately Rp13 quadrillion) over 20 years to intercept simultaneous limited attacks of 10 missiles. This analysis was reported by RIA Novosti, citing the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO), regarding the space-based layer of the ‘Golden Dome’ air defence system being developed by the US Department of Defense.

The space-based interceptor layer represents the most expensive component of the Golden Dome project, with total development, operation, and maintenance costs projected to reach $1.2 trillion (approximately Rp21.2 quadrillion) over 20 years. The space layer alone accounts for 60 per cent of total expenditure and 70 per cent of the $1 trillion acquisition cost.

The CBO emphasised that maintaining this coverage could add a significant financial burden, as satellites in low Earth orbit (300 to 500 km) encounter atmospheric drag that can shorten their lifespan to approximately five years. To keep 7,800 satellites active, the US would need to launch around 1,600 replacement satellites annually, totalling 30,000 launches over 20 years. Assuming future launch costs of $500 per kilogram, the average cost per satellite remains around $22 million.

This massive constellation is necessary because the satellites are designed to intercept missiles during the boost phase, which lasts only 3 to 5 minutes. Satellites in low orbit move along specific paths and cannot remain stationary over launch sites; therefore, thousands of units are required to ensure enough interceptors are close enough to targets before the missile’s boost phase concludes.

The CBO estimates that 35 regional sectors will require $187 billion (approximately Rp3.2 quadrillion) for terminal defence against cruise and hypersonic missiles. Three large-scale upper defence sites and four large-scale lower defence sites will add costs of $46 billion (Rp812 trillion) and $29 billion (approximately Rp512 trillion) respectively. Meanwhile, a specialised tracking satellite constellation is estimated to cost $90 billion, with an additional $92 billion required for research, development, and system integration.