The U.S. Space Force has awarded 20 contracts worth up to $3.2 billion to 12 companies to develop space-based interceptors for Golden Dome, with SpaceX among the selected contractors. The service said on April 24 that it expects to integrate the interceptors into the Golden Dome architecture by 2028.
Golden Dome is being built as a layered missile-defense shield intended to counter traditional, advanced, and hypersonic threats. The Space Systems Command said the interceptor effort is aimed at a proliferated low-Earth-orbit constellation capable of boost, midcourse, and glide-phase engagements.
The company list also includes Anduril, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics Mission Systems, GITAI USA, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Quindar, Raytheon, True Anomaly, and Turion Space. Golden Dome overall has been estimated at about $185 billion, with some projections suggesting substantially higher long-term costs if the interceptor fleet expands.