Space stocks such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab ushered in a catalyst? The US first confirmed that it has orbital space weapons, and the “Golden Dome” program is advancing at an accelerated pace

The Zhitong Finance App learned that the US military publicly confirmed for the first time that the US now has a “space control weapon” in orbit, and that the “Golden Dome” space-based interceptor project has advanced to the “flightable hardware” stage, and the integrated demonstration target will target 2028. The news brought space stocks back into the spotlight.

Space stocks had mixed ups and downs on Tuesday. Redwire (RDW.US) rose 2.48%, Rocket Lab (RKLB.US) rose nearly 2%, SpaceX (SPCX.US) fell more than 3%, and AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.US) fell nearly 2%.

The US side publicly confirmed orbital space weapons for the first time

According to reports, US Air Force Secretary Troy Meinke said on Monday: “The US now has in-orbit space control weapons that can protect US forces from hostile forces,” and “this is very important from a deterrent perspective.” Maink did not specify the type of space-based weapon. The report said that this is the first time that the US has admitted that it has “offensive capabilities” in space.

US Space Force Secretary of Operations Douglas Heath further confirmed on Tuesday that Space Force soldiers are already operating “orbital weapons capable of withstanding space attacks.” Richard Palmer, director of the US Space Command's Capabilities and Resource Integration Bureau, also said on Tuesday that the public disclosure of these capabilities is intended to deter rivals, while showing that the US is ready to respond. Palmer said, “Our coalition forces and allied forces need space, and our economy needs space. America is ready to maintain that.”

Mainke revealed on Monday that the “Golden Dome” space-based interceptor project “progressed from the initial contract stage to the flightable hardware stage in less than a year.”

According to reports, in May of last year, US President Trump announced the “Golden Dome” space-based missile defense system development plan. Trump said that the “Golden Dome” will be integrated with America's existing missile defense capabilities. Once fully completed, it can intercept missiles launched from other parts of the world or even from space. The entire system is expected to cost about 175 billion US dollars and is scheduled to be “fully operational” within 3 years.

Which space stocks are expected to benefit?

In April of this year, the US Space Force awarded 20 prototype contracts to 12 companies including SpaceX, Northrop Grumman (NOC.US), Lockheed Martin (LMT.US), and Anduril, with a total value of up to $3.2 billion. These companies will develop space-based interceptors that can intercept missiles in the “Golden Dome” system.

SpaceX was most affected by Washington's military deployment. The company received a contract worth 2.29 billion US dollars in May to build a secure “backbone of a space data network”, and also obtained a contract worth 4.16 billion US dollars to build satellites and support systems that track aerial threats from orbit.

Rocket Lab holds a $266 million contract from the US Space Force to be responsible for 12 sub-orbital missile defense launches, and can choose to execute 6 additional times; in addition, the company has also received two space data network orders totaling $12 million. Additionally, the company plans to acquire Iridium Communications (IRDM.US) for $8 billion, a move that will add a mature satellite network to its launch and spacecraft business.

Meanwhile, companies such as Planet Labs PBC (PL.US), AST SpaceMobile, Redwire, Voyager Technologies, and Voyager Technologies (VOYG.US) have also attracted investors' attention due to their layout in the fields of military satellites, communications, and rail infrastructure.

On the Stocktwits platform, retail investors “bearish” AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX, and have a “neutral” view of Rocket Lab and Redwire. In the past year, AST SpaceMobile rose 43%, Redwire rose 19%, Rocket Lab rose 18%, and SpaceX fell 11%.