WASHINGTON — As tensions mount between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the administration is expanding its search for partners to build the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense system, turning to Amazon’s Project Kuiper and major defense contractors to reduce reliance on SpaceX, according to multiple sources familiar with the shift.
The pivot comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Trump and Musk, punctuated by a public fallout on June 5. Even before the rift, officials within the Pentagon and White House had begun expressing concerns about SpaceX’s dominance in critical defense infrastructure, particularly its Starlink and Starshield satellite networks central to U.S. military communications.
While SpaceX remains a frontrunner due to its unmatched satellite launch capabilities—having deployed more than 9,000 Starlink satellites—it may face reduced involvement in Golden Dome. Musk publicly downplayed SpaceX’s role, saying the company had “not tried to bid for any contract in this regard” and preferred to focus on its Mars mission.
The Golden Dome system is modeled loosely after Israel’s Iron Dome but on a far larger scale, requiring a dense satellite constellation to support a layered defense against missile threats. As part of its expanded search, the administration has approached Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which has launched 78 of a planned 3,000 satellites. Though still in its early stages, Kuiper has drawn fresh interest for potential defense applications, including communications and missile tracking.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s executive chairman, previously noted that while Kuiper was “primarily commercial,” defense usage was inevitable. A spokesperson for the project declined to comment, and both the Pentagon and White House remained silent on the latest developments.
Golden Dome has also drawn interest from established defense players like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris. L3Harris reported increased demand for its missile warning and tracking technology, while Northrop is advancing a space-based interceptor system that could strike targets directly from orbit.
Lockheed Martin confirmed its commitment in a statement, with Lockheed Martin Space President Robert Lightfoot stating the company is “ready to support Golden Dome for America as a proven mission partner.”
The competitive landscape has shifted significantly since the Musk-Trump feud. Initially, companies with close ties to Trump—such as Palantir and Anduril—were seen as top contenders. But now, newer Silicon Valley startups and commercial tech firms are gaining attention, partly due to a growing emphasis on diversified partnerships and innovation.
Smaller launch providers like Rocket Lab and Stoke Space are also expected to compete for individual launch contracts as the project evolves. A U.S. official said that as Golden Dome develops, “each individual launch is going to get bid,” signaling a move away from exclusive reliance on SpaceX.
The urgency behind the initiative is mounting. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, confirmed by the Senate on July 17, has been tasked with leading Golden Dome under a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He has 30 days to assemble a team, 60 days to produce an initial system design, and 120 days to deliver a comprehensive implementation plan covering satellite networks and ground stations.
Meanwhile, concerns over cybersecurity loom large. While commercial platforms like Kuiper offer scale, their networks must be hardened against threats such as jamming and electronic warfare—issues that have already plagued SpaceX’s Starlink. Musk previously acknowledged in 2024 that his company was “spending significant resources combating Russian jamming efforts.”
Beyond technical hurdles, the Golden Dome project could reshape global security dynamics, potentially accelerating the militarization of space as adversaries respond to U.S. advances in orbital defense capabilities. As the Trump administration presses ahead, the project’s next phase will determine how broad and diversified the U.S. satellite defense ecosystem becomes.