WASHINGTON, LOGIC.co.id – Elon Musk’s SpaceX, alongside two other tech companies, has emerged as a top contender in the development of President Donald Trump’s ambitious missile defense system, dubbed the Golden Dome. The project marks one of Silicon Valley’s most significant forays into the realm of U.S. defense contracting.
According to six sources with direct knowledge of the initiative, SpaceX is set to partner with software firm Palantir and drone technology company Anduril to build critical components of the Golden Dome system. All three firms have known ties to Trump, with Musk reportedly having donated more than $250 million to support Trump’s political campaigns. He now serves as a special presidential advisor on government spending efficiency.
What is the Golden Dome?
The Golden Dome is a defense system aimed at protecting the United States from missile threats, which Trump described in his executive order on January 27, 2025, as “the most catastrophic threat to the United States.”
The system is designed to deploy hundreds—if not thousands—of surveillance satellites orbiting Earth, capable of detecting missile launches, tracking their trajectories, and determining if they pose a threat to U.S. territories. Some of these satellites are expected to be armed with missiles or lasers to neutralize enemy attacks—though SpaceX is reportedly not involved in the weapons component.
A Controversial Subscription Model
Unusually, SpaceX has proposed a subscription-based model—a novel approach in major defense contracts. Under this scheme, the government would not own the system outright but instead pay a subscription fee for access to and use of SpaceX’s technology.
While this model is said to speed up deployment, it has raised concerns about government dependency on private providers, particularly regarding development control and pricing.
The Pentagon’s Role and Rivals
The Pentagon has received over 180 proposals from various companies, including defense industry giants such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and RTX. Lockheed has even launched a dedicated web page as part of its marketing strategy.
However, SpaceX’s advantage lies in its ability to rapidly deploy large numbers of satellites. The company has proposed to manage the “custody layer”—a network of satellites dedicated to missile detection and tracking. Initial cost estimates for engineering and designing this network range from $6 billion to $10 billion.
The Pentagon has outlined a phased timeline beginning in 2026 and extending beyond 2030. Thanks to its fleet of Falcon 9 rockets and modifiable existing satellites, SpaceX is believed to be in a strong position to take the lead.
Spotlight on Elon Musk
While Musk has yet to comment officially, his involvement is significant. He is supported by retired Air Force General Terrence O’Shaughnessy, who now serves as SpaceX’s senior advisor for defense and national security matters.
One source noted that the selection process for the Golden Dome has been notably different, with U.S. defense officials showing a “sensitive and respectful” stance toward Musk given his role in the administration.
Still, skepticism remains. Some question whether the trio—SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril—can truly deliver on such a vast and critical national defense system.
“It’s unclear whether SpaceX and its partners can pull this off. They’ve never built an end-to-end system of this scale that the country’s defense would rely on,” said one involved source.