The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to invest up to $151 billion in a cutting-edge missile defense technology initiative known as the “Golden Dome” project, marking one of the most expensive and ambitious defense programs in recent U.S. history.
On Friday, the U.S. missile defense agency announced it will soon invite companies to submit proposals for the development of an “advanced, multi-domain defense system” designed to detect and neutralize threats at all stages of flight—including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.
Officially titled the Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, or Shield, the program aims to distribute the $151 billion over a decade. The funding will cover a broad spectrum of activities, including research and development, cybersecurity measures, and the design and manufacture of weapon systems.
If fully funded, the project would provide significant opportunities for both emerging space and defense technology startups as well as established defense contractors.
President Donald Trump has pledged to invest $175 billion into the Golden Dome system—modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense—and has promised operational capability within three years. However, independent analysts and budget watchdogs have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the timeline and the proposed costs.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated in May that a comparable system could cost as much as $542 billion over 20 years. Meanwhile, Trump’s recent “big, beautiful bill” allocated only an initial $25 billion specifically for the project, with additional billions designated for missile defense technologies.
Several major defense firms have already shown strong interest. Booz Allen Hamilton CEO Horacio Rozanski told analysts Friday that his company “can play a variety of roles” and is actively engaging in the procurement process as it gains momentum. L3Harris recently announced expanded manufacturing capabilities partly in anticipation of Golden Dome-related contracts. Industry giants Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Lockheed Martin have all expressed intent to collaborate on the program.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a dominant player in U.S. satellite launches, is also expected to benefit despite recent tensions between Musk and the president. Trump denied reports that his administration sought to exclude SpaceX from the project, emphasizing his desire for Musk’s companies to “thrive.”
