The US Space Force awarded SpaceX a contract worth approximately $4.16 billion to build satellites for the Golden Dome missile defense system on May 29, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
Golden Dome, officially known as the Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI), will track foreign aircraft, missiles, and airborne threats from space. It uses advanced space sensors, communication systems, and AI-enabled ground processing to provide real-time missile tracking capabilities [2, 4, 5, 6].
The system will create a satellite constellation aimed at achieving initial operational capability by 2028, according to US Space Force General Michael Guetlein, who said the defense network will have "some operational capability" by the end of that year [3, 5, 6].
SpaceX is also developing prototypes of space-based interceptors and a secure, high-speed military communications network called Starshield tied to the Golden Dome program [3, 4, 5, 6]. Alongside the satellite contract, SpaceX received an additional $2.29 billion contract in May 2026 to build this communications network [4, 5, 6].
The US Space Force views Golden Dome as a multi-layered defense system. It will integrate ground-based interceptors, radar, command centers, and space-based sensors to detect, track, and intercept missile threats before they reach US territory [3, 4, 5, 6]. A Space Force statement described the need for "a persistent, global capability to sense and track airborne targets from space" using "advanced space-based sensors, secure and rapid communication links, and resilient ground processing" [5].
The Golden Dome program is projected to cost about $1.2 trillion over 20 years [5].
The combined contracts awarded to SpaceX connected to Golden Dome exceed $6 billion. These include the $4.16 billion satellite build and the $2.29 billion communications development [3, 4, 5, 6].
The next milestone is the delivery of the initial satellite constellation, expected to reach operational capability by 2028 [3, 5, 6].
