President Donald Trump is preparing an executive order for a “next generation” defense shield to protect the US against ballistic missiles and other long-range attack.

The Ground-Based Midcourse Defence (GMD) system, widely regarded as the backbone of US missile defence, is designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with a range of over 1,500 miles. However, as China, Russia, and Iran develop more advanced weapons, its ability to counter hypersonic threats remains uncertain.

Any U.S. system would have to go well beyond what Israel’s Iron Dome provides. Raytheon Co, which produces Iron Dome in coordination with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, says the system’s Tamir missile downs weapons launched from a range of 4 to 70 km.

He will order the construction of an Iron Dome shield that will "go well beyond" what Israel’s vaunted system provides. Read more at straitstimes.com.

In one of his less noted but more baffling executive orders, President Donald Trump this week directed “our military to begin construction of the great Iron Dome missile defense shield, which will be made all in the USA.

He is taking on a goal that past administrations – including his own – have struggled to reach. Read more at straitstimes.com.