SpaceX is set to receive a $2 billion U.S. government contract to build up to 600 satellites for Project Golden Dome, a new missile defense initiative announced by President Donald Trump in May, according to The Wall Street Journal.
What’s known
Project Golden Dome aims to intercept missiles before they reach their targets, functioning similarly to Israel’s Iron Dome system. However, the Pentagon has not yet disclosed detailed technical specifications.
Alongside SpaceX, several other defense contractors — including Anduril Industries and Palantir Technologies — are expected to take part in the program. The Trump administration reportedly intends to complete the project’s key phases before the end of the current presidential term.
The WSJ also reports that the Pentagon plans to leverage SpaceX’s satellite network for additional applications such as military communications and equipment tracking.
At present, SpaceX operates more than 8,000 satellites as part of its Starlink constellation.
