Golden Dome Is a $185 Billion Program, but Anduril Is Private. Here Are the 3 Public Companies Building It.

The U.S. government has launched an ambitious $185 billion Golden Dome Initiative to protect the entire continental United States from aerial missile threats. As part of this program, three prominent public companies are playing key roles - Lockheed Martin, RTX Corporation, and Northrop Grumman.

Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor, manufactures interceptor rockets and provides the command-and-control systems that connect sensors to interceptors. The company has secured 7-year contracts for its PAC-3 MSE and THAAD systems and is expanding its facilities to support the program.

RTX Corporation, Raytheon's parent company, contributes air- and missile-defense effectors and sensors. RTX has converted several agreements into binding contracts worth $70 billion, allowing work to commence before fully negotiating all terms. The company's radar semiconductor technology enables radars to see far and wide and cut through clutter.

Northrop Grumman provides low-orbit tracking satellites equipped with heat-sensing cameras to detect hypersonic missiles after launch. The company also leads in heavy solid rocket motors that power long-range interceptors and boost them into the upper atmosphere. Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $1.6 billion contract for propulsion and missile components to support the program.

Together, these three public companies are expected to benefit significantly from the Golden Dome Initiative, providing a multi-decade revenue stream as the U.S. ramps up defense spending to counter geopolitical threats.