Could Elon Musk's SpaceX Really Build the Golden Dome? Here’s What’s at Stake

Elon Musk ’s SpaceX , alongside two partners, has come forward as one of the leading contenders to secure a significant portion of Donald Trump 's newly announced "Golden Dome" missile defense shield.

If the tech entrepreneur is successful in his bid to build part of the controversial project, it could mean billions more in the pocket of the world’s richest man.

The president on Tuesday unveiled a plan to spend $25 billion to begin work on the Dome, insisting it would take only three years to complete. This is in contrast to estimates by the independent Congressional Budget Office , with an estimate suggesting the project might require approximately 20 years and come at a price tag of around $524 billion.

It follows an executive order from Trump on January 27, in which he described a missile attack as the “most catastrophic threat facing the United States."

SpaceX is vying for a portion of the Golden Dome project known as the "custody layer." This involves deploying a network of satellites designed to identify missiles, monitor their path, and ascertain whether they are aimed at the United States, according to two individuals privy to the bidding process. Reuters.

Musk’s company has estimated the preliminary engineering and design work for the custody layer of satellites would cost between $6 billion and $10 billion, the sources told the outlet.

Over the past five years, SpaceX has sent up numerous functional surveillance satellites, and more recently, they've introduced several prototypes. The sources mentioned these could potentially be adapted for use in this particular endeavor.

Reuters also reviewed an internal Pentagon memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Issued just prior to a February 28 deadline to high-ranking officials at the Pentagon requesting their preliminary Golden Dome plans and urging the "speeding up" of constellation satellite deployments.

Musk’s SpaceX has teamed up with two additional technology firms — software company Palantir and drone manufacturer Anduril — as part of their proposal for the "custody layer."

Each of these three firms was established by business leaders who significantly backed Trump politically, Musk alone contributing over $250 million to aid in President Trump’s election.

Over the last few weeks, according to Reuters Representatives from the three firms have convened with high-ranking officials in the Trump administration and at the Pentagon to propose strategies for this initiative. The plan allegedly entails deploying as many as 1,000 satellites around Earth aimed at detecting missiles and monitoring their movements.

A distinct squadron comprising 200 assault satellites equipped with missiles or lasers would subsequently take out enemy missiles, according to sources who spoke to the outlet. Additionally, it was mentioned that the SpaceX team is unlikely to participate in the militarization of these satellites.

Even though the Pentagon sent positive messages to the SpaceX team, sources informed Reuters The planning phase for constructing Trump's Golden Dome is still in its initial stage. The final design as well as the selection of those who will be working on it might undergo significant changes over the next few months or even years.

Reuters provided contributions to this report.

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