U.S. president Donald Trump described the possible rocket attack as a "most catastrophic threat" to his country and commissioned the preparation of the system's assumptions, which would match the Israeli Air defence strategy Iron Dome and guarantee the protection of the full U.S. territory from all air strikes — both drones and missiles, maneuvering missiles and hypersonics.
The founders of SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril gave Trump crucial political support,” he recalled Reuters, adding that despite the affirmative signals obtained by SpaceX, the decision-making process on the Golden Dome is inactive in its early stages.
The Agency has determined that the representatives of these 3 companies have met in fresh weeks with top-ranking officials of the American administration, including the Pentagon, to present a task to construct and place in orbit between 400 and 1,000 satellites detecting missiles and tracking their movement. In addition, 200 another satellites would be made armed with missiles and lasers capable of dropping enemy objects — Reuters, citing information obtained from 3 sources.
One of the sources acquainted with the discussions described it as “a departure from the usual purchasing process”. "The attitude is that the officials of defence and national safety are to treat Elona Musk with respect for the function he plays in the government," said the person. In the Trump Musk administration he heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
SpaceX does not comment on reports. Reuters talks about “an different return of action”
SpaceX and Musk refused to comment on these reports, and the Pentagon simply stated that it would supply Trump with "options to take decisions in accordance with the Implementing Regulation and the White home guidelines and schedules".
According to Reuters, ‘in a remarkable return of SpaceX's shares, he proposed that he would offer power to “subscription” to the system’. So the government would pay for access to technology, but it wouldn't have a strategy of its own. This model, stressed the agency, would let to circumvent any of the rules required by the Pentagon for akin purchases. This would velocity up the process and, according to 2 sources, would not be a violation of the law, but as a result, the authorities would lose control of the improvement and price of the full system.
If SpaceX and its co-operators had won a contract for the Golden Dome, it would have been the biggest accomplishment of Silicon Valley in competing for lucrative Pentagon orders and a blow to conventional suppliers of this resort, according to Reuters. Nevertheless, companies specified as Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and RTX will most likely besides play a crucial function in this investment, as reported by people acquainted with the case.
Some experts believe that the cost of the Golden Dome could scope hundreds of billions of dollars. According to 2 sources, SpaceX is curious in part of the project, the alleged protective layer — a constellation of satellites that would detect missiles, follow their trajectory and find whether they are heading for the US.
A billion-dollar investment. Satellites can be utilized for the Golden Dome
SpaceX estimated that the first engineering and plan work for the satellite protection layer would cost $6-10 billion, 2 sources. According to Reuters, over the last 5 years, Muska has launched hundreds of operational spy satellites, and late besides respective prototypes that can be upgraded and utilized for the Golden Dome.
At the same time, any people acquainted with the conversations are not certain that SpaceX would be able to effectively make a “cost-effective” strategy to defend the US against the attack. 1 of Reuters' interlocutors stressed that SpaceX and another technology companies have never committed themselves to a "complete national defence system".
