Anduril and Palantir are among 9 companies that have seen contract awards for the GOLDEN DOME missile defence mega-project. Their roles, it is now being reported, is central as they are collaborating to realize the software core that will enable the networking of sensors and interceptors needed to realize the vision of a shield able to deal with ballistic, cruise and hypersonic threats.

Last year it had been reported that the two companies are in a teaming arrangement with SpaceX, which aims to deliver at least part of the extensive constellations of satellites that GOLDEN DOME is going to require to ensure timely detection, tracking and even engagement of the threats in flight. The development of space-based interceptors is a key component of the GOLDEN DOME vision, with multiple billions already committed: the Reconciliation package of mandatory spending lists $5.59 billion for FY 2026 for the “space-based and boost phase interceptor capabilities”, with another $7.2 billion for the space-based sensors.

The other companies already in the GOLDEN DOME circle are Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, AeroVironment, Firefly Aerospace and Blue Origin, but many more firms are potentially involved across the supply chain when considering that 340 different companies have been accepted within the Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) framework established by the Missile Defense Agency. This multi-award, multi-contract procurement vehicle has a ceiling spend of $151 billion over a decade (to December 2035). SHIELD is an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract that provides MDA and other Department of War entities with a flexible enterprise vehicle designed to accelerate acquisition timelines across a multitude of components and systems critical to the missile defence enterprise.

The latest estimate of the cost of GOLDEN DOME, dating back to statements released last week, is $185 billion.

Anduril and Palantir will provide not only software but Artificial Intelligence solutions to accelerate command and control and compress engagement times. Anduril was earlier this month awarded a long-term deal worth potentially up to 20 billion to integrate advanced commercial technologies into a unified, AI driven operational system for the US Army, as well. Palantir’s MAVEN artificial intelligence is also to become a program of record for the US Army: it is a command-and-control software platform that analyzes battlefield data and identifies targets.

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