Astronomy Prints 🌌: Trump's 'Iron Dome for America' plan directs space-based missile shield

01/28/2025

National security insights for space professionals. Delivered Tuesdays.

Welcome to this week's edition of SpaceNews Military, your source for the latest developments at the intersection of space and national security. In this issue, we cover:

- Trump issues 'Iron Dome for America' executive order

- DoD, Lockheed Martin move quickly to comply with Trump's DEI order

- Another aerospace CEO publishes open to letter to DOGE

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, sign up for free here

Space & defense brief 🛰️

Trump unveils 'Iron Dome for America' missile defense plan

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday mandating development of a vast new missile defense system that could include controversial space-based weapons.

The order calls for an American version of Israel's Iron Dome system but on a massively larger scale, targeting what Trump termed "the most catastrophic threat facing the United States" — advanced weapons like hypersonic missiles.

The most contentious piece is a push for space-based interceptors that supporters say could provide global coverage but critics warn might spark an arms race and clash with existing treaties.

The Pentagon now has 60 days to deliver plans for the system, including accelerating space sensor programs and developing a new satellite constellation through the Space Force.

Change of guard at the Pentagon

Pete Hegseth on Friday was confirmed as Secretary of Defense following a contentious confirmation process.

In his first statement after taking the oath of office, Hegseth outlined his primary focus areas, emphasizing national security, military readiness and technological superiority. He told lawmakers he plans to prioritize modernizing the nation's military capabilities, including strengthening the U.S. posture in space, a sector he described as vital to maintaining military dominance.

Vice President J.D. Vance called Hegseth a "disrupter." Speaking with CBS News on Sunday, Vance said, "a lot of people don't like disruption, but that disruption is incredibly necessary."

Specifically on space issues, Hegseth laid out some of his views in advanced policy questions submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee prior to his confirmation.

He expressed strong support for the Space Force, advocating for its continued expansion and the integration of new technologies aimed at countering growing threats in the domain. He noted the need to improve collaboration between the Space Force and other branches of the military, as well as strengthening partnerships with allied nations to ensure space security.

Defense funding debate brewing

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has called for a dramatic increase in NATO members' defense spending, pushing for a new target of 5% of GDP, up from the current 2% goal.

While Trump didn't explicitly state that the 5% target would apply to the U.S., reaching this goal would have significant implications for the U.S. defense budget. Currently, the U.S. spends about 3.4% of its GDP on defense. Increasing to 5% would push the Pentagon budget from roughly $842 billion to more than $1 trillion.

Alongside calls for increased spending, Trump has reportedly expressed intentions to reduce U.S. military presence in Europe, a move that reflects his "America First" doctrine, emphasizing increased contributions from allies while potentially reshaping the U.S. military footprint abroad.

Pentagon scraps DEI programs following Trump order

The Department of Defense has moved rapidly to implement President Trump's executive order to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

Acting Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth in a memo Jan. 22 directed that all outward-facing media from DEIA offices, such as websites and social media accounts, be removed. The Department of the Air Force is also cancelling all DEIA-related training and terminating any DEIA-related contract.

Lockheed Martin has also announced that it is taking immediate action to ensure compliance with the executive order. The company stated that it will not have goals or incentives based on demographic representation or affirmative action plans.

General Atomics CEO calls for export controls reform in letter to DOGE

Linden Blue, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), has joined the chorus of defense industry leaders expressing hope that Elon Musk, head of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will take action to reform U.S. defense acquisition processes.

In an open letter released on Monday, Blue outlined a series of recommendations aimed at streamlining the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system and revising export regulations he says are hampering the U.S. defense industry's competitiveness on the global stage. His letter follows a call for reforms from L3Harris CEO Chris Kubasik last week, though Blue's proposals focus heavily on export policies and international market dynamics.
Blue's company, a subsidiary of General Atomics, is a major player in both unmanned systems and space technology through its Electromagnetic Systems division, which produces satellites for government customers.
The letter points to "policies, procedures, and organizational oddities" within the FMS system and U.S. export controls, which he argues are allowing rival nations — such as China, Turkey, and Israel — to grab portions of critical markets.
"Poor U.S. government policy and sluggish bureaucratic decision-making have opened the door for competitors," Blue writes, underscoring the need for "bold leadership" to break through entrenched inefficiencies.
A significant portion of Blue's critique focuses on the FMS system, a process meant to streamline arms sales to foreign allies but which he describes as a maze of fragmented responsibilities split among the Department of State, various Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, and military services.
Execution is fragmented, Blue states. "Nobody is ultimately accountable for achieving or failing to achieve the administration's strategic objectives."
Blue also targeted the U.S. interpretation of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a decades-old multilateral agreement intended to curb the proliferation of missile technology tied to weapons of mass destruction. While the MTCR aims to enhance global security, Blue argues its current implementation stifles U.S. exports of dual-use technologies, including advanced drones.

DOGE has been tasked with streamlining federal operations, though what specific reforms it plans to tackle is still unclear.

Starlink's growing defense portfolio

SpaceX's satellite internet service Starlink is cementing its position as the Pentagon's go-to provider for space-based communications, with government contracts expected to generate $3 billion in 2025 — or about 25% of its projected total revenue.

The projections were released last week by Quilty Space, an industry research firm.

SpaceX's military-focused Starshield platform, selected by the National Reconnaissance Office for its new surveillance constellation, is included in these revenue estimates. Starshield was designed as a versatile spacecraft capable of hosting various payloads from missile tracking sensors to classified surveillance equipment.
"It's the Swiss Army knife of spacecraft," said Quilty Space's Kim Burke.
The company's overwhelming market dominance is reflected in its 97% capture rate of the U.S. Space Force's $13 billion low Earth orbit satellite services procurement program. This includes a $537 million contract supporting Ukraine's military operations.
Starlink's rapid military market expansion builds on the Pentagon's growing demand for resilient, high-speed space-based communications. Unlike traditional military satellites that take years to develop and launch, Starlink's commercial platform offers rapid deployment and regular technology updates.

In other news 🚀

The U.S. Space Force's Commercial Satellite Communications Office (CSCO) recently announced contracting opportunities worth approximately $2.3 billion for commercial satellite services over the coming year.

The procurement forecast outlines major initiatives for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, with the centerpiece being a nearly $900 million program focused on maneuverable satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO).

BlackSky, a provider of satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence, announced the delivery of its first Gen-3 satellite, scheduled to launch on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket next month from New Zealand.

The Gen-3 constellation is expected to provide rapid-revisit 35-centimeter imagery and AI-enabled analytics, the company said.

BlackSky also announced it won a more than $100 million contract from a non-U.S. government for Gen-2 and upcoming Gen-3 imagery and AI-enabled analytics services through 2032.

Redwire is set to acquire drone maker Edge Autonomy for $925 million, a combination that would transform the space infrastructure company into a bigger player in defense technology.

Jacksonville, Florida-based Redwire will pay $150 million in cash and $775 million in stock for Edge Autonomy, a manufacturer of military uncrewed aircraft systems whose technology has been deployed with Ukrainian forces in their war against Russia.