U.S. Congressional Budget Office: Trump's Golden Dome Missile Defense Estimated to Cost NT$38 Trillion Over 20 Years

(Central News Agency, Washington 12th comprehensive foreign report) The non-partisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today estimated that U.S. President Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense system plan could cost up to $1.2 trillion (approximately NT$38 trillion) over the next 20 years.

Agence France-Presse reported that the CBO stated in its report: "Of this estimated $1.2 trillion, acquisition costs... will total slightly more than $1 trillion. This amount includes the costs of the system's main components, namely the interception layer and the space missile early warning and tracking system."

The report stated: "The most expensive part is the space interception layer, accounting for about 70% of the acquisition costs and 60% of the total costs."

The report also stated that the average annual expenditure for operation and maintenance is $8.3 billion.

Trump ordered the Pentagon to develop a high-tech missile defense system plan in late January last year, initially called "Iron Dome for America."

Trump announced an initial investment of $25 billion for this plan in May last year, stating that the final cost was estimated to be $175 billion. (Compiled by Lu Yingzi) 1150513