Elon Musk, the tech mogul and head of DOGE, finds himself frequently targeted by the left.
However, in the realm of tangible achievements, he continues to make significant strides.
His company, SpaceX, is reportedly on the brink of expanding its military business portfolio as the Pentagon considers revamping a program aimed at deploying hundreds of missile-tracking satellites into low Earth orbit.
According to the Washington Post, "Competitors have fallen so far behind SpaceX that many fear they wont be able to catch up, leaving NASA and the Pentagon with few other options as it faces increased competition in space from China and other nations.
Musks hard-charging company rakes in billions of dollars from the U.S. government, flying everything from cargo to astronauts to some of the Defense Departments most sensitive satellites. The company also operates more than 7,000 Starlink internet satellites in orbit, more than any other entity."
The Space Force had initially envisioned a strategy involving multiple contractors to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs. SpaceX, however, has already established a militarized version of its Starlink network, known as Starshield, which is utilized by the Pentagon and intelligence agencies.
"In a statement, the Air Force and Space Force said they are working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to evaluate all acquisition programs at a time when the Trump administration is looking to cut the Pentagons budget by 8 percent so that the money can be used for new priorities. But the agencies said that no decisions had been made regarding the satellite system, known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture program[]."
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that the Pentagon will allocate $35 billion to the missile-tracking system. It remains uncertain whether the Pentagon will cancel existing contracts with companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, York Space Systems, and Rocket Lab, or if it will restructure future solicitations. The Pentagon's strategy involves deploying swarms of smaller satellites, which are less vulnerable to attacks and offer redundancy.
The missile warning system is projected to include between 300 to 500 satellites in low Earth orbit. "The Pentagon has moved to allow for greater competition in another multibillion program: launching the satellites it increasingly relies on for modern warfare operations like precision-guided munitions, reconnaissance and communication."
To foster competition, the Pentagon has established two "lanes" for launch competitions. Lane 1 is open to new entrants bidding on contracts for smaller, less critical satellites, while Lane 2 is reserved for more robust and proven rockets tasked with launching satellites where failure is not an option. SpaceX has secured the majority of Lane 2 contracts, which extend through 2029.
As the Pentagon increasingly turns to SpaceX, the Falcon 9 rocket stands out as one of the most reliable in history, solidifying the company's position as a key player in the defense sector.
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