The Trump administration is expanding its search for partners to build the Golden Dome missile defense system. This move is shaped by strained relations with Elon Musk and the threat to SpaceX‘s dominance in the project. The U.S. is trying to include Amazon’sProject Kuiper and major defense companies.
This shift stems from Pentagon and White House officials beginning to explore alternatives to avoid over-reliance on SpaceX.
The publicly revealed tension in June further worsened the relationship between the two sides.Musk and SpaceX have not commented on the matter, while US officials are holding talks to incorporate Project Kuiper into defense infrastructure. Kuiper plans to have 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, but has only launched 78 so far.
SpaceX is still the preferred partner for large parts of the project thanks to its experience launching more than 9,000 Starlink satellites and its experience with governments.
However, the Pentagon and other defense players are seeking new suppliers for satellites, aiming to integrate commercial firms into such projects. Amazon’s Kuiper is attracting renewed attention due to its potential for defensive applications. Kuiper can meet critical defense needs such as low-orbit satellites and missile tracking. Golden Dome aims to be a larger and more complex version of Israel’s Iron Dome. However, such a defense system requires a much larger network of satellites. Therefore, new rocket companies and defense industry giants could be included in the project, potentially narrowing down SpaceX’s role.Although SpaceX stands out due to its space launch capabilities, smaller firms may also bid to participate in this program. Companies like Rocket Lab and Stoke Space are preparing to participate in major projects as the program progresses.
Golden Dome’s defense applications and security concerns create challenges, both technically and politically. Such a space-based defense system could reshape global security balances and accelerate the space armament of rival countries.
