SpaceX is reportedly set to receive a massive $2 billion contract from the U.S. government to develop a new array of military satellites, according to the Wall Street Journal. This funding is specifically earmarked for building up to 600 satellites capable of tracking both missiles and aircraft.
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These new assets will be deployed in support of President Trump’s proposed defence initiative, dubbed the “Golden Dome” project. Announced in May, the Golden Dome is envisioned as an anti-missile defence system—reminiscent of Israel’s Iron Dome—designed to intercept and neutralize missile attacks before they can reach their intended targets.
Considering the ambition of the initiative, SpaceX’s reported $2 billion contract may only be one piece of a much larger funding effort. The Trump administration has set an aggressive target to complete the project before the end of the current presidential term.
The development is expected to include other major technology firms as partners. The WSJ report suggests that companies like Anduril Industries and Palantir Technologies could also be involved in creating the sophisticated network necessary for the Golden Dome to function effectively.
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Beyond the specific scope of the Golden Dome, the Pentagon is also planning to significantly leverage SpaceX’s existing, extensive satellite infrastructure for other military applications.
The Department of Defence intends to utilize the company’s vast network—which currently includes more than 8,000 satellites for its commercial Starlink service—for essential functions such as military communications and vehicle tracking. This demonstrates a broader strategic pivot by the Pentagon to rely on the scale and low-Earth orbit capabilities of commercial satellite providers to enhance national security and reconnaissance.
