Official budget announcements or press releases from the Department of Defense

SpaceX Expands into Spy Satellites, Secures Majority of Pentagon's $13B Contracts with Starshield

Oct 31, 2024, 03:15 PM

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expanding its operations into the military sector by developing spy satellites, a move that positions the company against established defense contractors such as Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. Over the past year, SpaceX has significantly increased its focus on military and intelligence capabilities, collaborating with the Pentagon to meet national security needs. This shift comes as the U.S. government is looking to enhance its satellite capabilities amid growing competition with China. The Pentagon has reportedly allocated a budget increase for satellite internet services, raising funding from $900 million to $13 billion, with SpaceX’s militarized Starlink service, known as Starshield, securing a majority of Defense Department contracts. Concerns have also been raised regarding the implications of SpaceX's global interests on national security, particularly from Taiwan.