US Needs 7,800 Satellites for Golden Dome Air Defense System

NASA ILLUSTRATION/KAYLA BARRON

JAKARTA - The United States needs to launch a constellation of 7,800 satellites at a cost of up to 743 billion US dollars (about Rp13 trillion) for 20 years to intercept a limited attack of 10 missiles simultaneously.

The analysis was delivered by RIA Novosti, citing the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO), regarding the space-based layer in the Golden Dome project air defense system or the Golden Dome developed by the US Department of Defense.

The space-based interceptor layer is the most expensive component in the GoldenDome project defense system, with total development, operation, and maintenance costs projected to reach $1.2 trillion (about Rp21.2 quadrillion) for 20 years.

The space layer alone has accounted for 60 percent of total spending and 70 percent of the acquisition cost of 1 trillion US dollars (about Rp17.6 trillion).

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Monday, May 18, the figure far exceeds the estimated 185 billion US dollars (about Rp3.2 trillion), which was previously submitted by the director of the Golden Dome Office, for the objective architecture of the system over the next 10 years.

CBO emphasizes that maintaining the coverage can add a significant financial burden, because satellites in low orbit, namely 300 to 500 km, cause atmospheric interference that can shorten the life span to about five years.

To keep the 7,800 satellites active, the US would have to launch about 1,600 replacement satellites each year, or a total of 30,000 launches in 20 years. Assuming future launch costs of $500 per kilogram, the average cost per satellite would remain around $22 million.

The massive constellation is needed because the satellites are designed to intercept missiles in the initial phase (boost phase) which only lasts 3-5 minutes.

Low-orbit satellites move in certain paths and cannot stay above the launch site, so thousands of units are needed to always have a sufficient interceptor close to the target before the initial phase of the missile launch is over.

In addition to the space interceptor network, the cost of the Golden Dome also includes ground-based defense and tracking infrastructure.

CBO estimates that 35 regional sectors will swallow 187 billion US dollars (about Rp3.2 trillion) for terminal defense against cruise and hypersonic missiles.

Three extensive upper defense sites and four extensive lower defense sites each add $46 billion (Rp812 trillion) and $29 billion (around Rp512 trillion).

Meanwhile, the constellation of special tracking satellites is estimated to cost 90 billion dollars, plus 92 billion dollars for research, development, and system integration.