Lt Gen Kapil Aggarwal (Retd)

Lt Gen Kapil Aggarwal (Retd)

Former Director General Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Indian Army. Earlier, Commandant Military College EME and Chairman Army Pay Commission. MTech from IIT Kharagpur.
  • Joined: 29/07/2022
  • Articles: 3

US PLANS “GOLDEN DOME” SHIELD

The Golden Dome is a proposed \$175 billion U.S. space-based missile defense system announced in 2025 by President Trump. Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, it aims to deploy hundreds of satellites with sensors and interceptors to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. Unlike existing systems, Golden Dome includes offensive and preemptive capabilities. Critics warn it could cost trillions, trigger a global arms race, and violate space treaties. While ambitious, the plan faces technological, financial, and geopolitical challenges. It marks a major shift in missile defense strategy, reviving elements of Reagan’s abandoned "Star Wars" program from the 1980s.

INDIA’S DEFENCE BUDGET 2025: WHAT IT MEANS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

India’s Defence Budget 2025-26 is ₹6.81 lakh crore, comprising 1.85% of GDP, with ₹1.8 lakh crore for capital outlay and ₹3.12 lakh crore for revenue expenditure. Despite a 9.5% rise over BE 2024-25, defence spending as a percentage of GDP has declined over decades. The budget prioritizes indigenous procurement (₹1.11 lakh crore) and modernization but faces challenges from slow procurement processes and rising pension costs. National security concerns persist, necessitating increased R&D investment, policy reforms, and higher capital allocations to enhance military preparedness and ensure strategic deterrence. A non-lapsable modernization fund is crucial for sustained capability enhancement.