Google (GOOGL.US) reportedly in talks with the US Department of Defense to cooperate, aiming to provide data security support for the $185 billion "Gold Dome" missile defense program

According to Thomsom Finance APP, sources reveal that Alphabet (GOOGL.US, GOOG.US)-owned Google is currently in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Defense, planning to participate in a new data security project to provide technical support for the "Golden Dome" missile defense program, which was launched during the Trump administration with a total investment of $185 billion. This would be the first time Google is publicly reported as a potential participant in the "Golden Dome" project, marking the tech giant's further expansion into the U.S. defense and national security sectors.

According to the sources, the Department of Defense is forming a new industry alliance aimed at ensuring the security of data used in the "Golden Dome" missile defense system, making sure that related military software can continue to operate normally even under cyberattacks or disruptions to communication infrastructure.

The alliance is expected to involve multiple companies, with a key focus on protecting the data flowing into the "Golden Dome" command and control system from risks arising from attacks or failures affecting fixed communication lines, mobile base stations, and other critical communication infrastructure. Discussions between Google and the Department of Defense primarily center around technical capabilities in data storage, network connectivity, and cybersecurity.

However, sources stress that negotiations are still at an early stage and that specific cooperation arrangements may change. Additionally, Aalyria Technologies, a network technology company spun off from Google, has also participated in forming the related alliance.

A Department of Defense official stated that although preliminary options are being explored, there is not yet a final decision to establish the new alliance or confirm which companies will participate.

The "Golden Dome" project is a flagship defense initiative spearheaded by President Trump, aiming to establish a multi-layer missile defense system from ground to space to protect the U.S. mainland against external missile attacks. The project involves not only missile interceptor systems but also requires the creation of a unified command and control network connecting various military devices.

Currently, the "Golden Dome" command and control system is being developed by another industry alliance including defense technology companies such as Anduril, Palantir (PLTR.US), and SpaceX (SPCX.US). The system is designed to integrate the U.S. military’s originally independent weapon systems, radars, and other military devices to facilitate information sharing and coordinated operations.

The data security project Google is negotiating to join is mainly responsible for ensuring the security and stability of the data transmission and communication networks on which these systems rely.

Notably, unlike typical military projects in the past that are led by a single large defense contractor, the "Golden Dome" initiative adopts a collaborative approach involving multiple companies. Both the space-based interceptor systems and the command control software development include a wide range of participants from startups to traditional defense contractors.

For Google, participating in the "Golden Dome" program would represent a significant step in further expanding its U.S. defense business. In fact, Google’s cooperation with the U.S. military was previously a source of internal controversy. In 2018, thousands of Google employees protested its involvement in the Project Maven artificial intelligence program with the U.S. military over concerns that commercial technology might be used for military operations. Google ultimately decided not to renew that contract.

However, in recent years, Google has gradually adjusted its stance on defense business, not only setting up specialized teams for the public sector but also entering into multiple artificial intelligence and cloud computing agreements with the U.S. military.

In April of this year, Google further reached an agreement with the Department of Defense to allow the military to use its AI models in classified work. Although this decision again sparked some internal opposition, it also signaled Google’s greater willingness to participate in national security-related projects.

If this cooperation is ultimately finalized, Google could leverage its strengths in data storage, network infrastructure, and cybersecurity to play a more important role in major U.S. defense projects. However, a formal agreement has yet to be reached, and whether Google will ultimately join the "Golden Dome" project, along with the scope and commercial value of such cooperation, remains to be confirmed.