The US Space Force announced the conclusion of contracts with 12 by leading defense and technology giants for a total of approx 3,2 billion dollars to prototype space interceptor technologies under the Golden Dome initiative.
For reference: the Golden Dome program is a key initiative of the Donald Trump administration, which involves the creation of a multi-level anti-missile defense system using space platforms. Основна ідея полягає у розгортанні орбітального угруповання для ураження балістичних, крилатих та гіперзвукових ракет ще у фазі розгону.
Командування Космічних система (SSC) The US Space Force reported, that the companies received in total 20 contracts under the Other Transaction Authority mechanism (OTA) at the end 2025 year and at the beginning 2026 year. OTA winners include Anduril Industries, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics Mission Systems, GITAI USA Inc., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Quindar Inc, Raytheon Company (RTX division), Sci-Tec Inc, SpaceX, True Anomaly Inc та Turion Space Corp.
For reference: OTA is a special legal mechanism, which allows US federal agencies to enter into agreements outside of traditional procedures, provided for standard contracts, grants or cooperation agreements.
Last September, the Space Force announced the publication of a request for proposals for prototype orbital interceptors (SBI) as part of the Golden Dome program. Office of Space Combat Power (as part of the SSC) collected suggestions for SBI under four categories: atmospheric and non-atmospheric means of defeat, unified ground communication and fire control systems. The SBI program is aimed at creating an anti-missile interception system, able to demonstrate the integrated capabilities in the architecture of the Golden Dome to 2028 year. It is assumed, that the SBI system will consist of a distributed constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, здатного здійснювати перехоплення на етапах розгону, середньої траєкторії та планерного польоту.
За словами полковника Макклейна, керівника програми Space Combat Power, the OTA mechanism made it possible to involve a wide range of contractors in the development. This made it possible to combine the experience of market leaders with the energy of startups, ensuring stable competition and the introduction of American innovations. Thanks to such cooperation, the US Space Force plans to demonstrate the first results of the project already in 2028 year.
Source: https://www.satellitetoday.com