Reportedly, Alphabet Inc. Class C (GOOGL.US) is in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense on cooperation, planning to provide data security support for the US$185 billion "Golden Dome" missile defense program.

According to people familiar with the matter, Alphabet Inc. Class C, a subsidiary of Alphabet (GOOGL.US, GOOG.US), is in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense, planning to participate in a new data security program to provide technical support for the Trump administration's US$185 billion "Golden Dome" missile defense program. This would be the first publicly reported instance of Alphabet Inc. Class C potentially participating in the "Golden Dome" program, and marks the tech giant's further expansion into U.S. defense and national security business. The people familiar with the matter said the U.S. Department of Defense is establishing a new industry consortium aimed at safeguarding the data used by the "Golden Dome" missile defense system, ensuring that relevant military software can continue to operate normally in the event of cyberattacks or disruptions to communications infrastructure. The consortium is expected to involve multiple companies, with a focus on protecting data flowing into the "Golden Dome" command and control system and guarding against risks posed by attacks on or disruptions to fixed communication lines, mobile communication base stations and other critical communications facilities. Among them, discussions between Alphabet Inc. Class C and the U.S. Department of Defense mainly revolve around technical capabilities such as data storage, network connectivity and cybersecurity. However, the people familiar with the matter emphasized that the talks are still at an early stage and specific cooperation arrangements may change. In addition, Aalyria Technologies, a company of Network-1 Technologies, Inc. spun off from Alphabet Inc. Class C, has also participated in the preparatory work for the relevant consortium. A U.S. Department of Defense official said that while relevant departments may be exploring preliminary plans, no final decision has yet been made on establishing a new consortium or determining participating companies. "Golden Dome" is a key defense project promoted by U.S. President Trump, planning to build a multi-layered missile defense system covering ground to space to protect the U.S. homeland from external missile attacks. The program involves not only missile interception systems but also the establishment of a unified command and control network capable of connecting different military devices. Currently, the "Golden Dome" command and control system is being developed by another industry consortium that includes defense technology companies Anduril, Palantir (PLTR.US) and SpaceX (SPCX.US). The system is designed to integrate the U.S. military's previously independent weapons systems, radars and other military equipment to enable information sharing and coordinated operations. The data security program that Alphabet Inc. Class C is in talks to join is primarily responsible for ensuring the security and stability of the data transmission and communication networks on which these systems rely. It is worth noting that, unlike past military projects typically led by a single large defense contractor, the "Golden Dome" program adopts a model of joint participation by multiple companies. Whether it is the space-based missile interception system or the development of command and control software, numerous participants ranging from startups to traditional defense contractors are involved. For Alphabet Inc. Class C, participating in the "Golden Dome" program would be an important step in further expanding its U.S. defense business. In fact, Alphabet Inc. Class C's cooperation with the U.S. military has previously sparked internal controversy. In 2018, thousands of Alphabet Inc. Class C employees protested the company's participation in the U.S. military's Project Maven artificial intelligence program, fearing that relevant commercial technology would be used for military operations. Alphabet Inc. Class C ultimately decided not to renew the project contract. However, in recent years, Alphabet Inc. Class C has gradually adjusted its stance on defense business, not only establishing a dedicated public sector business team but also signing multiple cooperation agreements with the U.S. military on artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies. In April this year, Alphabet Inc. Class C further reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense allowing the military to use its artificial intelligence models in classified work. Although this decision once again drew opposition from some employees, it also shows that Alphabet Inc. Class C is more actively participating in national security-related projects. If this cooperation is ultimately reached, Alphabet Inc. Class C is expected to play a more important role in large U.S. defense projects by leveraging its data storage, network infrastructure and cybersecurity technologies. However, the two sides have not yet reached a formal agreement, and whether Alphabet Inc. Class C will ultimately join the "Golden Dome" program, as well as the specific scale of cooperation and commercial value, remain to be further confirmed.