Trump's upcoming £140bn 'Golden Dome' missile shield could protect the US AND Canada

Donald Trump has revealed ambitious plans for a state-of-the-art missile defence system dubbed "Golden Dome", designed to shield the United States from foreign missile attacks - and he says it could be ready before the end of his potential second term in office.

"In the campaign I promised the American people I would build a cutting-edge missile defence shield," Mr Trump announced at the White House. "Today I am pleased to announce we have officially selected architecture for this state-of-the-art system."

The $175 billion (£140 billion) defence shield is expected to be completed within three years, according to the former President.

In a notable development, Canada has expressed interest in joining the missile defence programme, Mr Trump added.

If fully realised, Golden Dome would see the United States placing weapons in space for the first time - enabling the destruction of incoming missiles during various phases of flight, reports

Mr Trump also confirmed that Gen Michael Guetlein, currently serving as vice-chief of space operations, will take the lead in overseeing the progress of the Golden Dome system.

The groundbreaking shield is set to incorporate both ground and space-based technologies, allowing US defences to track and neutralise missiles at every possible stage - from pre-launch detection to intercepting threats mid-flight or as they close in on targets during their final descent.

For several months, Pentagon experts have been working on a range of potential configurations, including what a US official described as "medium, high and extra high" cost options. Space-based interceptors form a key part of these proposals.

The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that the space-based elements alone could cost as much as $542 billion over the next two decades. Mr Trump has already included an initial $25 billion request for Golden Dome in his proposed tax break legislation currently moving through Congress.

The urgency of the initiative comes amid mounting concerns over the advanced missile capabilities of China and Russia, which Pentagon officials say demand an updated and highly capable defence response.

Golden Dome's network of satellites and interceptors - which account for most of the system's massive cost - is specifically designed to counter these sophisticated threats at early or mid-flight stages.

"The space-based weapons envisioned for Golden Dome represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organisations," said Gen Chance Saltzman, head of the US Space Force, during a hearing on Tuesday.

If successful, the Golden Dome could mark a historic leap forward in US military space capability - and a bold step into a new era of high-tech defence.