SpaceX Secures a Hefty $4.16B Space Force Contract for Missile Defense
The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a massive $4.16 billion contract on Friday, May 30, 2026. The contract is for the development of a satellite constellation designed to track and target airborne threats from space. This deal is a part of the Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI) program, a crucial component of the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
This contract, combined with a separate $2.29 billion Space Force award announced earlier this week for a secure military communications network, brings SpaceX’s total new defense contracts to a staggering $6.45 billion in a single week. The SB-AMTI system will employ advanced space-based sensors, secure communications links, and ground processing to provide persistent, global tracking of airborne targets. These targets include fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, and potentially hypersonic weapons. The Space Force expects SpaceX to field the initial satellite constellation by 2028.
The timing of this contract is significant as SpaceX recently filed for its initial public offering, targeting a valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion. This could potentially be the largest IPO in history. Meanwhile, the Golden Dome program’s total cost has escalated to $185 billion, up $10 billion from original estimates. The fiscal 2027 budget request includes initial funding for the initiative.
Source: Engadget