The Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology noted that it is still difficult to comment on the plans for the deployment of the space component of missile defense.
WASHINGTON, May 24. /TASS correspondent Dmitry Kirsanov/. The space component of the American Golden Dome missile defense system (ABM) would pose a serious threat to the satellites of Russia, China and other countries that Washington may consider as potential adversaries. This opinion was expressed in an interview with a TASS correspondent by an authoritative American expert in the field of rocket technology and missile defense, Emeritus Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Theodore Postol.
He noted that it is still difficult to comment on the plans for the deployment of the Golden Dome, since the system exists only on paper, and there is still no detailed information about it. At the same time, Postol confirmed that the available information already allows us to draw a conclusion about possible negative consequences for the entire global security system. "It is difficult to analyze something that does not exist, but what is being proclaimed has some distinctive features that cause concern due to the potential consequences for global security. The arguments in favor of the fact that interceptors deployed in space can be part of the Golden Dome are particularly problematic," said the specialist, who was a former science adviser to the Chief of Staff of the US Navy, and also worked at Stanford University and Argonne National Laboratory.
"The problem is that such a system can pose a serious threat to satellites, which will turn out to be an extremely simple target if such interceptors are placed in orbit and have the ability to intercept at high speed," said Postol. According to him, "space-based interceptors would not be an effective system against intercontinental ballistic missiles." "However, the satellite is essentially a stationary target, in the sense that its location is known at any time. If you know the orbital characteristics of a satellite, you will know exactly where it is at any given moment," the expert explained.
When asked to indicate whether he meant that the Golden Dome system would pose a threat primarily to Russian and Chinese satellites, Postol replied in the affirmative. "She poses this kind of threat, yes," the expert emphasized. "The political rhetoric [of the American side] certainly suggests that the United States is seeking to acquire [with the deployment of the Golden Dome] a significant defense potential aimed against China and Russia. This, of course, follows from the statements that describe the Golden Dome," Postol is convinced.
Political theater?
At the same time, he questioned the effectiveness of the Golden Dome system as a whole in its announced form in the event of deployment and described as "political theater" statements by the leadership of the US administration, including President Donald Trump, about this program. "From a cynic's point of view, this is being done to satisfy his [electoral] base," Postol said about Trump. "He has a political base that he has to please. And he has a lot of difficulties now, if you look at his international efforts," the expert is convinced.
"It's obvious to me that this is a completely crazy idea," the specialist said, referring to the plans for the deployment of the Golden Dome in their entirety. "If they (American officials - approx. If they believe in this, then it's a crazy idea. If not, then it's a cynical political ploy. Perhaps we are talking about both," added Postol.
Washington's plans
As Trump announced on May 20, the United States has defined the architecture of the Golden Dome system, which will include the launch of interceptors into space. According to the owner of the White House, it is estimated that the construction of the system will take about three years and $ 175 billion. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth confirmed that the system will be designed to intercept nuclear weapons, among other things.
Russia and China on Golden Dome
As emphasized in the joint statement adopted on May 8 following talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the American Golden Dome program is "deeply destabilizing." This US project involves the creation of an unlimited, global, deeply layered and multi-spherical missile defense system in order to protect against any missile threats, including all types of missiles from "equal and comparable opponents in strength," the document explains. First of all, this means a complete and final rejection of the recognition of the inextricable relationship between strategic offensive and strategic defensive weapons, which is one of the central and fundamental principles of maintaining global strategic stability, Russia and China point out. In addition, the parties state, this project gives an additional impetus to the further development of kinetic and non-kinetic means of pre-launch destruction of missile weapons and the infrastructure that ensures their use.
The situation is further aggravated by the fact that the program provides for a significant strengthening of the arsenal of means for conducting combat operations in space, including the development and deployment of interception systems in orbit, which turns outer space into an environment for the deployment of weapons and an arena of armed confrontation, Moscow and Beijing warned.
