Rocket Lab Corp. won a $266 million contract from the U.S. Space Force for 12 suborbital launches, the largest launch award in the company's history. The deal supports missile defense testing and will primarily be conducted from a new site in Alaska. Shares rose about 3 percent on the news.
Rocket Lab secured a $266 million contract with the U.S. Space Force for 12 suborbital launches, the company's largest launch deal to date, to support missile defense testing.
"Cadence, iteration, and relentless execution are essential to maturing America's missile defense capabilities, and that's exactly what we bring with launch leadership," said Sir Peter Beck, founder and chief executive officer of Rocket Lab.
The contract, awarded by the Space Systems Command's Rocket Systems Launch Program, includes options for as many as six additional launches. The missions will primarily operate from a new Rocket Lab site at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska in Kodiak, complementing existing launch complexes in New Zealand and Virginia. The first launch is expected no earlier than the end of 2026.
The award cements Rocket Lab's role as a critical supplier for national security programs, adding substantial backlog to a company that already operates the world's most frequently launched orbital small rocket, Electron. The contract also supports the company's expansion into hypersonic test capabilities through its HASTE rocket, positioning it for further defense work as the U.S. prioritizes missile defense modernization.
Rocket Lab shares gained about 3 percent following the announcement, reflecting investor confidence in the company's expanding government business. The contract is the latest in a series of defense awards for the Long Beach, California-based company, which has been diversifying beyond commercial satellite launches into national security missions, competing with larger players including SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.
The company's Electron rocket is the world's most frequently launched orbital small rocket, while its HASTE rocket provides hypersonic test launch capability for the U.S. government and allied nations. Rocket Lab is also developing the Neutron launch vehicle, which will unlock medium launch for constellation deployment, national security and exploration missions.
Beyond launch services, Rocket Lab's spacecraft and satellite components have enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning commercial, defense and national security programs, including GPS, constellations, and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
