US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (May 20) said he has shortlisted a design for the ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence shield, and made General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force in-charge of the project. First floated by Trump this January, the Golden Dome is inspired by Israel’s much lauded Iron Dome system — a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system. But it is far more ambitious in scale and scope, and seeks to integrate “next-generation” technologies across land, sea, and even space. Here’s what we know so far. Making ‘space wars’ a reality Trump said that the system will comprise, among other things, space-based sensors and interceptors. If this were to be true, this would make the Golden Dome the very first truly space-based weapon system. Story continues below this ad As of right now, the use of space technology in defence has largely been restricted to reconnaissance. Satellites provide crucial targeting and other data for Earth-based weapon systems such as long-range missiles, guided munitions, etc. The proposed Golden Dome goes one step further, with …