MDA Announces First Golden Dome SHIELD Contractors: Over 1,000 Firms
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has announced the first wave of contractors for its Golden Dome SHIELD program, selecting 1,014 companies from 2,463 proposals to participate in a contract vehicle valued at up to $151 billion. The awards, disclosed December 2, 2025, mark a significant step in implementing the Trump administration’s comprehensive missile defense modernization strategy.
SHIELD—the Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense program—serves as a primary procurement channel for Golden Dome, the administration’s $175 billion initiative to establish a layered defensive shield against advanced missile and cruise-missile threats from peer competitors including China and Russia.
Inclusion on the SHIELD vendor list does not guarantee revenue. Instead, all work will be awarded through separate, competitive task orders, ensuring merit-based selection as specific requirements emerge. The contract vehicle extends through December 2035 and permits performance across United States sites.
MDA structured SHIELD to streamline competition across diverse technical domains, from research and development through production, sustainment, and information technology services. This broad approach reflects Golden Dome’s conceptualization as a modular “system of systems” designed to evolve through multiple phases.
According to administration officials, Golden Dome will integrate space-based sensors and interceptors with terrestrial radar and ground-launched missile defenses within a multi-tiered, open-architecture network. The architecture emphasizes rapid threat detection and neutralization against inbound missile and cruise-missile threats.
The 1,014-firm vendor pool signals MDA’s preparation for extensive competition as Golden Dome’s next implementation phases take shape. Early task orders are anticipated to emphasize technology development and integration, including novel sensor concepts, advanced command-and-control systems, and emerging interceptor designs.
Industry analysts view SHIELD as a deliberate effort to broaden industrial base participation beyond the traditional major defense contractors typically dominating large-scale programs. This approach potentially accelerates innovation cycles by enabling smaller firms and specialized technology providers to contribute specialized capabilities.
The Golden Dome initiative represents a strategic pivot toward integrated air and missile defense modernization, reflecting Pentagon assessments of evolving global threats. The program’s emphasis on rapid integration and modular architecture aligns with Department of Defense modernization priorities focused on speed and technological agility.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764867646429-1153