Google in Talks to Secure Data Layer for Golden Dome Missile Defense

Alphabet's Google is in discussions with the US Defense Department to support a new data security effort underpinning the $185 billion Golden Dome missile defense program. The talks would mark Google's first publicly known involvement in the program and reflect its deepening push into national security work.

The Pentagon is standing up a new industry group focused on securing the data that feeds into military software being built for Golden Dome, according to people familiar with the matter. The group is likely to involve multiple companies working to ensure that data flowing into the new command-and-control software is resilient to attacks, such as attempts to cut access to landlines, cell towers and other critical communications infrastructure.

The conversations have centered on Google's data storage, networking and cybersecurity capabilities, one person said. The discussions remain early and plans could change. Aalyria Technologies Inc., a networking company spun out from Google, is also involved in the consortium. A Pentagon official said that while the office may explore preliminary concepts, no final decision has been made regarding a new consortium or industry participants. Google and Aalyria declined to comment.

Golden Dome is President Donald Trump's marquee defense program to build a layer of defense systems from ground to space intended to protect the US from foreign attack. The program's command-and-control layer, developed by a separate group including Anduril, Palantir and SpaceX, is designed to control and connect weapons systems, radars, and other previously siloed systems across the US military. Both the Pentagon's space-based missile interceptor initiative and its command-and-control consortium rely on numerous companies ranging from startups to established primes, unlike past defense programs that have typically been anchored by a single large contractor.

Google has had a complicated history with defense work. In 2018, thousands of Google employees protested the company's involvement in a military AI program called Project Maven, citing concerns that the commercial technology would support warfare. Google ultimately did not renew the contract. In the years since, the company created a dedicated public sector business and signed deals with the military for AI and cloud capabilities. In April, Google signed an agreement to use its AI models for classified work at the Pentagon, an about-face from its previous stance that drew another, smaller, backlash from employees.

The potential involvement is another sign of how the search giant is continuing to lean into national security and defense work, building on its established public sector business and prior Pentagon agreements.

With conversations still at an early stage and no final decision made on the consortium or its participants, the next step will be whether the Pentagon moves to formalize the industry group and confirm which companies take part.