Rocket Lab secured a record $266 million U.S. Space Force contract for up to 18 suborbital hypersonic test launches, driving a stock surge and funding a new launch facility at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, with work scheduled through December 2028.
The U.S. Space Force awarded Rocket Lab its largest launch contract to date, a $266 million firm-fixed-price agreement that establishes a multi-year national security workstream for the aerospace manufacturer. The deal, announced by the U.S. Space Force on July 21 and confirmed by the company on July 27, covers 12 guaranteed suborbital launches with options for six additional missions. The program will support missile defense capabilities and hypersonic flight testing, addressing a critical capacity bottleneck for the Defense Department.
Rocket Lab Corporation
Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) officially confirmed Monday that it has been awarded a $266 million multi-launch contract with the U.S. Space Force — the largest single launch contract in the Long Beach-based company’s publicly disclosed history. Rocket Lab signed its largest-ever launch contract, a $266 million deal with the Pentagon’s U.S. Space Force. The deal comes as the U.S. government increasingly turns to private contractors like Rocket Lab, SpaceX and Blue Origin to handle space launches. On Monday, Rocket Lab announced an agreement with the U.S. Space Force for 12 suborbital launches, according to a press release. The first launch in the program will take place before the end of the year. The deal’s framework gives the U.S. Space Force the option to use the company for six additional launches. Most of the launches will take off from its launch facility in Kodiak, Alaska, the company said. Rocket Lab (RKLB) stock rose as much as 7% on Monday morning following the news, according to MarketSurge. Shares then pared those gains to about 1.4%. Rocket Lab had previously won a larger, $816 million contract to build and design 18 satellites for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency. Headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., Rocket Lab has made a name for itself as one the U.S. government’s go-to partners for satellite space launches. In addition to Space Force, the company also works with NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office, among others.
Pacific Spaceport Complex Expansion in Kodiak, Alaska
Rocket Lab will establish a new launch site in Alaska under a $266 million U.S. Space Force contract for up to 18 suborbital missions, expanding the company’s role in military launch services as the Pentagon seeks more capacity for weapons testing. The contract, which marks the company’s largest launch award to date, was awarded by the Space Systems Command’s Rocket Systems Launch Program and covers 12 launches, with options for six additional missions. The first launch is scheduled no earlier than the end of 2026. Rocket Lab confirmed July 27 the award will support the development of a new launch site at the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska. This will give the company a fourth launch site alongside its existing facilities in New Zealand and Virginia. The award further expands Rocket Lab’s role in national security launches beyond its commercial small satellite business. The company has increasingly positioned its Electron-derived HASTE suborbital vehicle as a platform for hypersonic and missile defense testing, completing multiple missions for Pentagon customers in recent years. The Rocket Systems Launch Program provides responsive launch services for research, development and operational test missions across the Defense Department.
Rocket Lab RKLB 1.27 %increase; up pointing triangle received a $266 million U.S. Space Force contract, its largest agreement to date, for up to 18 suborbital launches that will support missile defense capabilities. Under the contract, the space company, which provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads and satellite components, on Monday said it will perform 12 suborbital launches, with up to six additional launches, the first of which is set to take place by the end of 2026.
Space Systems Command
The contract, awarded by Space Systems Command’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) and structured as a firm-fixed-price agreement, was the result of a competitive acquisition that drew three offers, with $112 million in fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation funds obligated at the time of award. Work must be completed by December 31, 2028.
Key Takeaways: The U.S. Space Force awarded Rocket Lab a $266 million firm-fixed-price agreement. The contract includes 12 suborbital missions with potential for six more launches. All missions will launch from Alaska’s Pacific Spaceport Complex through December 2028. Fiscal 2025 funding of roughly $112 million has been allocated to the program. Shares of RKLB climbed over 6% in response to the contract news. Shares of Rocket Lab (RKLB) surged more than 6% on Wednesday following news that the aerospace manufacturer landed a significant $266 million agreement with the U.S. Space Force. The agreement follows a firm-fixed-price model and encompasses 12 suborbital launch missions, with provisions for six more if exercised. The mission timeline extends through the end of December 2028. Oversight of the program falls under the U.S. Space Systems Command, which serves as the contracting authority. Upon contract award, approximately $112 million from fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation budgets was already allocated to the initiative. Launch operations will take place at Alaska’s Pacific Spaceport Complex. This contract establishes a solid multi-year government workstream for Rocket Lab, positioning the company within the national security space sector alongside major contractors such as SpaceX.
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