By Jessica West
Ballistic missile defence has long been a tantalizing dream—promising security through advanced technology that could intercept threats before they hit. But history has repeatedly shown that these promises amount to an illusion. Days after United States President Donald Trump ordered an "Iron Dome" for America, Canada’s Minister of Defence Bill Blair signalled a willingness to join, telling reporters in Washington, D.C., that Canada would be a “willing partner” in this endeavour. Ottawa should think twice.
Trump’s missile defence rhetoric follows a familiar pattern: lofty promises, questionable technology, and strategic blindness. The idea of an “Iron Dome” for North America might sound appealing—after all, Israel’s system has had success against short-range rockets. But the challenges of strategic missile defence are far more complex than those of regional, short-range defence.
Strategic missile defence is a flashy, but failed, concept. After 60 years and $350-billion, the system can intercept a carefully controlled test target only 57 per cent of the time at best—and it’s helpless against new threats like manoeuverable hypersonic missiles.
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