Space Force Awards Early Golden Dome Contracts

Initial recipients will serve as a steppingstone for contractors to compete for larger agreements that could be worth billions.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, December 02, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

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Jack Daleo

U.S. President Donald Trump announces the Golden Dome missile defense project in May. [Credit: C-SPAN]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Space Force has awarded initial prototype contracts to private firms, including Lockheed Martin and Anduril, for space-based interceptors (SBIs) crucial to the "Golden Dome" missile defense effort.
These SBIs are designed to intercept enemy missiles during their boost phase from orbit, a significant departure from traditional ground-based systems, with the goal of deployment within three years.
Although initial funding is small, successful prototypes will compete for lucrative post-2028 production contracts potentially worth billions, with companies expected to largely self-fund much of the development.
The Golden Dome project, while advancing, faces major questions about its projected costs, potentially reaching trillions, and timeline, complicated by secretive contracting and proposals like SpaceX's subscription-based satellite network.

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The U.S. Space Force has reportedly selected a handful of private firms to build and test missile defense prototypes for the Pentagon and President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome effort.

Two sources told Reuters that Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Anduril, and startup True Anomaly are among the recipients of initial funding to develop space-based interceptors (SBIs) that are intended to destroy enemy missiles minutes after launch, during the boost phase. The funding will also cover control stations required to help the SBIs track and hit their targets. Both are key components of Golden Dome, which the Pentagon hopes will come online within three years.