The Trump administration is actively diversifying partnerships for its ambitious $175 billion Golden Dome missile defence system, significantly reducing reliance on Elon Musk’s SpaceX following a notable deterioration in relations between the tech billionaire and the president, according to Reuters.
This strategic shift sees the Pentagon courting Amazon’s Project Kuiper and established defence contractors like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, according to sources familiar with the procurement process.
The reassessment follows a public falling-out between Trump and Musk on 5 June, though defence officials had already begun exploring alternatives due to concerns about over-dependence on a single contractor for the space-based missile shield.
SpaceX’s pivotal role in US military communications through its Starlink and Starshield networks had initially positioned it as a frontrunner. However, Musk publicly distanced the company from the project, stating on X:
SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars.
Despite this, SpaceX retains advantages through its extensive launch experience and existing constellation of over 9,000 satellites. The company remains likely to secure launch-related contracts, though its overall share of the programme appears set to diminish.
In a significant expansion of potential partners, the Pentagon has approached Amazon’s Project Kuiper—which has launched just 78 of a planned 3,000-satellite constellation—signalling greater integration of commercial entities into national security infrastructure.
Amazon executive chairman Jeff Bezos acknowledged in January that while Kuiper is “primarily commercial,” defence applications for such low-earth orbit constellations are inevitable.
Meanwhile, traditional defence contractors are positioning themselves for major roles. L3Harris has reported surging interest in its missile warning technologies, while Northrop Grumman is developing space-based interceptors enabling orbital missile strikes. Lockheed Martin has publicly declared itself “ready to support Golden Dome for America as a proven mission partner.”
Technical hurdles and strategic implications
Golden Dome’s operational framework faces compressed timelines and complex technical challenges. Newly confirmed Space Force General Michael Guetlein has been directed to assemble a team within 30 days, deliver an initial system design within 60 days, and present a full implementation plan—including satellite and ground station specifications—within 120 days.
The inclusion of commercial platforms like Kuiper introduces cybersecurity vulnerabilities, particularly concerning electronic warfare hardening. In May 2024, Elon Musk acknowledged that the persistent challenge of securing space-based networks.
Security analysts warn that satellites supporting critical infrastructure require protection against sophisticated cyberattacks, data poisoning of AI systems, and adversarial machine-learning techniques that could compromise mission integrity.
Military strategists further caution that Golden Dome’s proposed 2040-2045 deployment window risks obsolescence upon launch. By then, adversaries are expected to deploy advanced countermeasures including hypersonic swarm missiles, quantum navigation systems resilient to jamming, and co-orbital anti-satellite weapons.
The system’s space-based architecture could also accelerate the militarisation of space, potentially triggering new arms races as nations develop offensive capabilities to neutralise orbital defence platforms.
As the Pentagon reconfigures its contractor ecosystem for this ambitious initiative, Golden Dome represents not merely a technical challenge but a geopolitical pivot point, one where commercial rivalries, political tensions, and evolving warfare technologies converge in the increasingly contested domain of space.
