President Donald Trump’s ambitious vision for a missile defense system, dubbed the “Golden Dome,” is moving forward, with Elon Musk’s SpaceX emerging as a key player in its development.

Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the proposed system aims to protect the United States from a range of aerial threats, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.

Sources familiar with the project reveal that SpaceX, alongside partners Palantir and Anduril, is pitching a network of 400 to 1,000 satellites to detect and track missiles in real time.

The Golden Dome’s “custody layer” is a critical component, designed to identify missiles, monitor their trajectories, and assess whether they pose a threat to the U.S.

According to the Daily Mail, SpaceX is vying to lead this effort, leveraging its expertise with the Falcon 9 rocket and existing satellite technology, such as Starlink, which could be adapted for missile defense purposes.

The company’s ability to rapidly deploy satellites gives it a competitive edge, according to insiders.

The Pentagon and Trump administration officials have held recent meetings with the SpaceX-led consortium to discuss the plan.

While the project is still in its early stages, the proposal has garnered attention for its scale and technological ambition.

The system would integrate multiple defense technologies to counter threats from nations like Russia, China, or rogue actors, as outlined in Trump’s January 27 executive order.

Despite the enthusiasm, the Golden Dome faces significant hurdles. Critics argue that the system’s complexity and cost could make it impractical.

A recent study called the plan “scientifically impossible,” citing the difficulty of intercepting advanced missiles, such as hypersonic weapons, in real time.

Unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, which defends a smaller area against shorter-range threats, the Golden Dome would need to cover the vast U.S. homeland and potentially protect allies from long-range attacks.

The Pentagon’s deputy, Steve Feinberg, a former private equity investor with ties to the defense industry, is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the project’s direction.

However, some sources caution that the plan’s structure and partnerships could shift dramatically as it progresses.

The Golden Dome has attracted interest from both established defense contractors, like Lockheed Martin, and innovative startups.

The U.S. Army is exploring artificial intelligence to enhance the system’s autonomy, reducing the need for human operators. The Missile Defense Agency and Space Force are also planning a summit to engage industry leaders further.

Trump has emphasized the urgency of the project, describing missile attacks as “the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.”

Proponents argue that a robust missile defense shield could deter adversaries and protect critical infrastructure from attacks, including electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strikes that could cripple the nation’s power grid.

The Golden Dome echoes former President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, which sought to use space-based technology to counter Soviet nuclear threats.

While Reagan’s vision was never fully realized, Trump’s plan aims to harness modern advancements in satellite and AI technology to create a next-generation defense system.