Pentagon begins deployment of new satellite network for Golden Dome system

The Pentagon has launched the first 21 satellites of a new network that will form the basis of the Golden Dome missile defense system. The launch took place on September 10, 2025 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This is reported by Ars Technica.

The satellites, developed by the Space Development Agency (SDA), are designed to track missiles and transmit data in real time via the Link 16 network. They will operate in an orbit at an altitude of 1,000 km and will be part of a constellation of 154 first-generation satellites (Tranche 1). By the end of 2026, the Pentagon plans to launch 133 more satellites.

"This is the first time we'll have a space layer fully integrated into our warfighting operations," said SDA Acting Director GP Sandhu.

The satellites will provide "beyond line of sight" communications, allowing data to be transmitted from Hawaii to Guam, for example. They will also detect ballistic and hypersonic missiles that are difficult to track with older systems.

Each satellite costs $14-15 million, and the total cost of Tranche 1 is $3.1 billion. The satellites will be deployed in such a way that the loss of several satellites will not affect the functionality of the network. In 2027, the system will provide communications and missile tracking in the western Pacific, which is key to countering threats from China.

Golden Dome, initiated by President Trump’s executive order in January 2025, will require thousands of satellites to track and intercept missiles. Congress has allocated the first $25 billion for the project, which is estimated to cost $175 billion by 2028. The SDA system will be the foundation for this missile defense.