WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday the Pentagon will pursue an Iron Dome-style missile defense system for the United States, fulfilling a campaign promise by President Trump.
Walking into the five-sided building for the first time as leader of the American military, Hegseth told reporters they could expect a flurry of executive orders from Trump, 78 — including one that would order the deployment of a system similar to that used by the Jewish state, which blasts ballistic missiles out of the sky with an accuracy rate of roughly 90%.
“Today, there are more executive orders coming that we fully support, on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of COVID mandates, Iron Dome for America,” he said. “This is happening quickly.”
The Israeli-made air defense system is heralded for its ability to target and shoot down incoming missiles, which has helped limit damage inside Israel from attacks by Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis throughout the 15-month-old Middle East war.
Pursuing an Iron Dome for America was part of the Republican campaign platform in 2024.
“Republicans will ensure our Military is the most modern, lethal and powerful force in the world,” the document said. “We will invest in cutting-edge research and advanced technologies, including an Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield, support our troops with higher pay, and get woke leftwing Democrats fired as soon as possible.”
However, Israel is a small nation located close to its enemies, raising questions about whether the US can hope to duplicate Iron Dome’s effectiveness.
Raytheon has created a similar system, dubbed the SkyHunter, which it claims “can be produced in the United States to expand availability and capacity for the US and its allies.”
Iron Dome maker Rafael — which is tied to the Israeli government — has told The Post that there are ways in which its system could be adapted to protect a nation the size of America.
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