US Space Force Engages Multiple Contractors for Golden Dome Orbital Interceptors Development
The US Space Force has announced a list of twelve companies that have been contracted to work on the Space-Based Interceptors (SBI) for the Pentagon's Golden Dome initiative. This initiative aims to create a multilayer defense system to protect US territory from various missile threats, including drones, ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. The companies involved include well-known names in the space industry such as SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, as well as newer entrants like Anduril Industries and True Anomaly. The contracts, awarded in late 2025 and early 2026, are valued at up to $3.2 billion and are structured as Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements, which allow for rapid prototyping by bypassing standard federal acquisition regulations. The focus of these agreements is on early-stage development and technology demonstrations rather than full-scale production.