Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacexis reportedly on track to receive a $2 billion contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to help develop a satellite-based defense system under President Donald Trump’s ambitious Golden Dome project. The system is designed to detect and intercept missiles and aircraft before they can reach American targets, marking one of the most significant defense technology partnerships in recent years.
According to people familiar with the matter that spoke with The Wall Street Journal, SpaceX will lead the development of an “air moving target indicator” satellite constellation that could eventually include as many as 600 satellites. The company is also expected to participate in two other Pentagon programs—one focused on secure communications and another on tracking ground vehicles in real time.
Unveiled earlier this year at the White House, the Golden Dome project draws inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome and aims to create a layered defense network capable of identifying and neutralizing threats from space and air. President Trump has pledged that the system will be fully operational by January 2029, with an estimated cost of $175 billion.
The Golden Dome is expected to serve as a multi-layered security system that combines space-based surveillance with terrestrial missile defense platforms. It will provide continuous tracking of airborne threats, including hypersonic and cruise missiles, using a mix of optical and radar-based sensors deployed in low-Earth orbit.
For SpaceX, securing this contract would further expand its footprint in national defense, adding to its existing portfolio of government launch services and satellite operations. The company’s proven ability to mass-produce and deploy satellites through its Starlink program is seen as a major advantage in meeting the Pentagon’s aggressive timelines.
With funding already approved under the administration’s latest defense spending bill, official confirmation of the SpaceX award is expected within weeks.
