benzinga20d ago
War is moving fast into drones, chips, and autonomous systems, and governments are increasingly looking to tech innovators like Elon Musk for a technological edge in modern warfare. But Musk says he's staying out of the weapons business, for now. SpaceX is often approached about participating in weapons programs, Musk said at the Qatar Economic Forum in May 2025. "I do not currently anticipate SpaceX going to be getting into the weapons business," he said. "That’s certainly not an aspiration. We're frequently asked to do weapons programs, but we have thus far declined." Don't Miss: This Lithium Breakthrough Is Turning Heads on Wall Street — See Why Investors Are Watching NVIDIA & Tesla Steal the Spotlight — RAD Intel Emerges as an AI Stock Worth Watching Musk said SpaceX's core focus remains rockets, satellites and expanding high-bandwidth internet connectivity through Starlink. SpaceX, founded in 2002, has expanded into military space infrastructure over the years. It joined a consortium of companies developing the operating system for the Pentagon's "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative, according to media reports last month. SpaceX's Role in the Ukraine War The future of warfare would be defined by AI and autonomous drones, Musk said at a U.S. Military Academy event in August 2024. Humans would become less relevant on the battlefield, with success hinging more on drone power and AI-driven systems than traditional forces, he said at the time. Musk also talked about the role of SpaceX and its satellite network Starlink in modern conflict. See Also: Investors With $1M+ Often Use Advisors for Tax Strategy — This Tool Matches You With One in Minutes "Starlink is the backbone of the Ukrainian military communication system because it can't be blocked by the Russians, essentially," Musk said at West Point. " On the front lines, all the fiber connections are cut, the cell towers are blown up and the geostationary satellite links are jammed. The only thing that isn't jammed is Starlink." The Pentagon awarded a contract to SpaceX for Starlink satellite communications services for Ukraine in 2023. "SpaceX is a space launch leader," Musk said at the Qatar Economic Forum. "SpaceX doesn’t do drones." Read Next: Turn your trading skills into real income — without risking your ... Full story available on Benzinga.com
