According to recent updates, Trump has officially excluded SpaceX from his $175 billion missile defense project, the Golden Dome, replacing it with Amazon.
Deteriorating Relationship with Elon Musk
The decision to replace SpaceX with Amazon came directly from Trump's administration following a public fallout between Trump and Musk on June 5. Earlier, Pentagon officials had expressed unease about Musk controlling too much of the military communications network. Musk stated on X that SpaceX had not bid on any contracts for Golden Dome, focusing instead on Mars colonization.
Support for Traditional Defense Companies
The Golden Dome system is similar to Israel's Iron Dome but aims for broader coverage across U.S. territory and beyond. The Pentagon has started reaching out to Amazon and other defense tech firms amid escalating tensions with Elon Musk. Project Kuiper has only 78 of its planned 3,000 low-Earth orbit satellites currently operational.
Plans and Prospects for the New Project
General Michael Guetlein was confirmed by the Senate on July 17 to lead the Golden Dome effort. Under orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, he faces tight deadlines for team building and design. Concerns over cybersecurity are growing, as Kuiper satellites will need to be protected from digital threats.
The shift from SpaceX to Amazon highlights changes in the strategic approach to national defense and opens new opportunities for both startups and traditional defense companies.
