SpaceX is reportedly poised to receive a potential $2 billion contract from the Department of Defense for a satellite constellation effort tied to the Trump administration’s Golden Dome next-generation missile defense shield project, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
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Proposed ‘Air Moving Target Indicator’ System for Golden Dome
According to people familiar with the matter, the contract would help fund development of a satellite system designed to track missiles and aircraft. The planned “air moving target indicator” platform could potentially deploy up to 600 satellites.
The funding for the proposed contract was within a tax-and-spending bill that President Trump signed in July.
Sources said SpaceX is expected to play a key role in two other DOD satellite networks: one dubbed “Milnet” for secure military communications and another to track ground vehicles.
According to WSJ, major contracts for the Golden Dome project have yet to be awarded as the Pentagon finalizes spending plans. Meanwhile, industry leaders and lawmakers await further details from DOD in the coming weeks.
What Is Golden Dome?
Golden Dome is envisioned as a multilayered defense system to intercept cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missile threats, integrating space-based sensors and interceptors.
According to a U.S. government slide presentation in August, Golden Dome will include four layers: one satellite-based platform and three land-based missile systems.
According to the slides, one of the layers will be a space-based sensing and targeting layer for missile warning and tracking, and missile defense. Meanwhile, the three ground-based layers consist of radar arrays, missile interceptors and lasers.
The missile defense shield is expected to cost $175 billion and be completed by 2028.
