Miles Jamison
The Trump administration is broadening its search for industry partners to develop the Golden Dome missile defense system, Reuters reported Tuesday.
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The move to recruit Amazon‘s Project Kuiper, Stoke Space, Rocket Lab and other major defense contractors to help develop the $175 billion space-based defense shield builds upon previous discussions among Pentagon and White House officials to reduce reliance on a single partner. SpaceX is still considered a contender for the project, particularly for launch contracts, due to its extensive satellite launch capabilities and government procurement experience.
Engaging New Entrants & Traditional Contractors
Project Kuiper’s potential involvement with the Golden Dome project reportedly signifies the administration’s willingness to integrate commercial technology companies outside of established defense firms into the national defense infrastructure. As the program develops, new entrants can compete for individual launches.
Traditional defense players such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies are in discussions to join the project, while Anduril and Palantir were seen as early contenders. Northrop is developing a space-based interceptor while L3Harris expects its missile warning and tracking technologies to be a key component of the Golden Dome. RTX, also expected to be a prime candidate for contracts, believes its Patriot missile defense system will be a cornerstone of the defense shield.
