China. The global missile defense system development race has entered a new phase. China is reportedly designing defense technology similar to Israel’s Iron Dome.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), China has successfully developed a prototype of such a missile defense system. A research team led by Li Xudong of the Nanjing Electromagnetic Technology Research Institute has created a “distributed early warning big data platform” that has now been handed over to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
This platform has the capability to detect and track up to 1,000 missiles heading toward China in real time from anywhere in the world. Leveraging advanced data integration technology and artificial intelligence (AI), the system can process data from multiple sensors, including satellites and radar, to quickly determine the missile’s trajectory, type, and threat level.
This system itself was designed after the United States (US) announced a similar system called Golden Dome. Although SCMP notes that the platform is still in its early development stages, the media outlet asserts it is still a step ahead of Washington.
“The US has only presented a concept, while China has already implemented it,” the media report said, as quoted by the South Korean news agency, Chosun Daily, on Wednesday (1/10/2025).
The US itself is still at the concept stage for this. This plan aims to build a layered defense system in space involving more than 1,000 satellites to intercept nuclear attacks and ballistic missiles.
However, its realization is still far from expectations. A report from the US Army’s Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation stated that the project has not even reached the detailed design stage and will not reach a demonstrable level until the end of 2028.
The project has also been overshadowed by controversy over its massive cost. President Donald Trump’s announced investment figure of US$175 billion (Rp 2,915 trillion) is significantly different from the US Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of US$831 billion (Rp 13,846 trillion).
Meanwhile, Taiwan isn’t standing still. A legislator from the ruling party, Wang Dingyu, announced that Taiwan plans to build a “Taiwanese version of the Golden Dome.”
This move was taken to further strengthen the island’s defenses by integrating all of its air defense systems into a single unified command center. The goal is to create an independent and effective missile defense network, a move that is certain to further complicate the security landscape in East Asia.
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