Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly the ‘frontrunner’ for Trump’s missile shield contract

SpaceX is successful the pb to assistance President Donald Trump make the “Golden Dome” rocket defence system, according to Reuters. The Elon Musk-owned institution is reportedly moving with the information investigation steadfast Palantir and the defence institution Anduril to physique “key parts” of the Golden Dome that, similar Israel’s Iron Dome, would intercept and destruct incoming missiles.

As reported by Reuters, the companies projected launching 400 to much than 1,000 satellites to consciousness and way missiles. It would besides person “a abstracted fleet of 200 onslaught satellites equipped with missiles oregon lasers” to instrumentality down missiles. Trump signed an enforcement order successful January to physique the “Iron Dome for America,” but immoderate estimation it could instrumentality years to implement.

Reuters notes that SpaceX apt won’t person thing to bash with the “weaponization of satellites,” and would alternatively supply a constellation of satellites for rocket tracking. SpaceX expects to walk $6 cardinal to $10 cardinal to physique its information of the system. It reportedly pitched its engagement arsenic a subscription work that would necessitate the authorities to proceed paying for its satellites.

“SpaceX has not tried to bid for immoderate declaration successful this regard,” Musk said successful a reply to a station astir the rumor connected X. “If the President asks america to assistance successful this regard, we volition bash so, but I anticipation that different companies (not SpaceX) tin bash this.”