š°ļø Trump$TRUMP Boots SpaceX from Golden Dome Project ā Amazon Steps In
In a major defense shakeup, former President Donald Trump$TRUMP
ousted Elon Muskās$BTC SpaceX from the centerpiece of the $175 billion Golden Dome missile shield and is bringing Jeff Bezosā Amazon into the spotlight instead.
White House Fallout Shakes Up Military Space Strategy
The dramatic shift follows the June 5 public collapse of Trumpās relationship with Musk. Even before the fallout, Pentagon insiders were reportedly uneasy about SpaceXās expanding control over U.S. military communications. That caution has now crystallized into action ā the administration is tapping new tech vendors, including Bezosā space initiative, Project Kuiper.
From Mars to the Sidelines?
Musk claimed on X that SpaceX ānever bidā on Golden Dome and remains focused on its Mars ambitions. Still, industry sources expect SpaceX to retain a limited role, particularly for launch operations where its Falcon 9 and Starship platforms remain unmatched.
Amazonās Kuiper Enters the Defense Arena
Although Kuiper has only deployed 78 of its projected 3,000 satellites, the Pentagon is actively exploring it for Golden Domeās satellite layer ā a U.S. version of Israelās Iron Dome, but on a continental scale. Amazonās executive chairman Jeff Bezos acknowledged earlier this year that Kuiper āwill have defense applications.ā
Traditional players like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris are also in talks. New contenders such as Rocket Lab and Stoke Space are now being given a shot at contracts once considered SpaceXās territory.
Pentagon Wants Competitive Bids
āWe're bidding every launch,ā a senior official told Reuters. āThis isnāt a monopoly.ā That means both legacy and startup aerospace companies will compete for roles in a system expected to cover U.S. territory and potentially allied nations.
Northropās space chief, Robert Fleming, revealed theyāre building orbit-based interceptors, while L3Harrisā CFO confirmed growing demand for space missile-tracking tech. Lockheed Martin said theyāre āready to serveā as a key Golden Dome partner.
Political Drama Meets Technical Urgency
Meanwhile, SpaceXās diminished role could be politically charged. Muskās formation of the āAmerica Party,ā aimed at countering Trump-aligned Republicans, may have fueled the rift. Firms like Palantir and Anduril ā close to Trump ā were also initially considered top contenders but appear to be sidelined for now.
Still, the project is full steam ahead. General Michael Guetlein, confirmed July 17, is now leading Golden Domeās implementation under orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He has just four months to finalize system blueprints.
Cybersecurity and Space Race Tensions
Golden Domeās satellite layer ā whether built by Kuiper or others ā must be hardened against cyberattacks. SpaceX already has experience in this realm, having recently countered Russian jamming attempts. Any defense role for Amazon will demand similar rigor.
Global implications loom large. A functioning orbital missile shield could shift the balance of power, forcing adversaries to escalate their own space defenses.
RTX, Raytheon, and the Bigger Picture
Executives at RTX (formerly Raytheon) say their Patriot missile system will likely play a crucial role in Golden Dome, particularly over the next 2ā3 years. The convergence of big defense budgets and private-sector innovation has transformed how America prepares for high-tech threats.
