Trump’s Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Musk’s SpaceX: Reuters

The Trump administration is broadening its search for partners to develop the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense system, reaching out to Amazon's Project Kuiper and major defense contractors as tensions rise with Elon Musk, potentially reducing SpaceX’s dominance in the program, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

This move signals a strategic pivot away from sole reliance on Musk’s company. SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have been central to U.S. military communications, but growing concerns over overdependence and Musk’s unpredictable leadership have spurred the White House and Pentagon to seek alternatives—even before a public falling-out between Musk and Trump on June 5.

Musk and SpaceX declined to comment. After Reuters initially reported SpaceX was a frontrunner for Golden Dome, Musk posted on X that his company had "not tried to bid for any contract in this regard" and reiterated its focus on "taking humanity to Mars."

Still, SpaceX remains a key player due to its unmatched launch record—having deployed over 9,000 Starlink satellites—and its extensive government contracting experience. However, officials say SpaceX’s share of the program may shrink as new entrants gain ground.

Project Kuiper and Other Contenders

Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of its planned 3,000 low-Earth orbit satellites, is being actively courted by the Pentagon. This highlights the administration’s openness to involving commercial tech firms in national defense, beyond traditional defense contractors. Though Kuiper was originally envisioned as a commercial venture, Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos acknowledged in January that defense applications for the satellite network are inevitable.

A spokesperson for Project Kuiper declined to comment. The Pentagon and White House also offered no comment.

Golden Dome, modeled in part on Israel’s Iron Dome, envisions a far more complex, layered missile defense shield supported by a vast orbital satellite network. According to one U.S. official, Kuiper has become "a big one" among the potential satellite vendors.

Meanwhile, newer space companies like Rocket Lab and Stoke Space are being considered for future launch contracts. “Each individual launch will be competitively bid,” said the official, suggesting SpaceX will no longer have a monopoly on launch services as the program matures.

Demand for Satellites Soars

The need for satellites has become urgent. In a major boost to the private sector, Congress recently increased the Space Force’s budget for satellite-based communications from $900 million to $13 billion.

While Kuiper has trailed SpaceX in deployment—largely due to delays under former Starlink engineers dismissed by Musk—its relevance is growing. Its capabilities, particularly for secure communications and missile tracking, have gained renewed interest as the administration prepares to allocate the first $25 billion tranche of the defense shield’s funding.

Legacy defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris, are also in talks to support Golden Dome. L3Harris CFO Kenneth Bedingfield told Reuters that demand for the company’s missile warning and tracking tech is surging. Northrop is reportedly developing space-based interceptors capable of launching missile strikes from orbit. Lockheed Martin said in a statement that it is “ready to support Golden Dome for America as a proven mission partner.”

Political Fallout Reshapes Competition

Earlier this year, the White House invited smaller, agile Silicon Valley firms to the table, aiming to diversify beyond the defense giants. At that time, several firms close to Trump—including Palantir and Anduril—were viewed as likely winners of major contracts.

But the feud between Musk and Trump has disrupted those expectations. Musk recently launched the "America Party," a centrist, tech-oriented political movement aimed at challenging Republicans who supported Trump’s expansive tax and spending legislation.

Accelerated Timeline Under Space Force Leadership

President Trump launched the Golden Dome project within the first week of his second term, pushing for swift deployment. On July 17, Space Force General Michael Guetlein was confirmed by the Senate to lead the program. Under a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Guetlein must:

• Assemble a program team within 30 days

• Deliver an initial system design within 60 days

• Present a full implementation plan—including satellite constellations and ground stations—within 120 days

These deadlines reflect the urgency and ambition driving the program.

Cybersecurity Concerns Loom

Bringing in commercial satellite networks like Kuiper raises national security concerns. These platforms would need to be hardened against cyber threats and electronic warfare—issues even SpaceX has struggled with. In May 2024, Musk disclosed that SpaceX was expending “significant resources combating Russian jamming efforts.”

Global Security Implications

Beyond technical and political challenges, Golden Dome could dramatically reshape global security. A functional space-based missile shield might prompt adversaries to escalate their own space militarization or develop novel offensive technologies to overcome such defenses.