US President Donald Trump ordered Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to submit the Iron Dome missile defense system design within 60 days.
"Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall: (a) Submit to the President a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense shield," Trump's executive order read.
The architecture will include plans to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles; accelerate the deployment of hypersonic and ballistic space-based tracking sensors; and develop and deploy space-based interceptors capable of intercepting missiles during the boost phase, the order said.
The order emphasized that the threat of a missile attack and other advanced air attacks "remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States."
On the day of his inauguration last Monday, Trump announced his intention to instruct the armed forces to develop and build the Iron Dome missile defense system to protect the country. Trump added that developing national defense would be one of the key priorities of his new administration.