Rocket Lab has secured the largest launch contract in the company’s history after being selected by the US Space Force to provide a series of sub-orbital launch missions supporting the development and testing of America’s next-generation missile defence systems.
Valued at US$266 million, the contract was awarded through the US Space Force’s Space Systems Command under its Rocket Systems Launch Program and will see Rocket Lab conduct 12 sub-orbital launches, with options for up to six additional missions.
The first launch under the agreement is scheduled to take place no earlier than late 2026, with the missions expected to play a critical role in testing emerging missile defence technologies, validating new systems and accelerating capability development for the United States military.
The contract represents a significant milestone for Rocket Lab, reinforcing the company’s growing role as a trusted launch provider for high-priority national security missions. While Rocket Lab has established itself as one of the world’s leading commercial small satellite launch providers, the latest agreement highlights its expanding presence in the defence and responsive space sectors.
Most of the launches will be conducted from Rocket Lab’s new launch facilities at the Pacific Spaceport Complex–Alaska in Kodiak, expanding the company’s operational footprint beyond its established launch infrastructure at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand and Launch Complexes 2 and 3 in Virginia.
The additional launch capability is expected to provide the US Space Force with greater flexibility and a higher launch cadence, enabling more frequent testing of missile defence technologies as the United States seeks to keep pace with rapidly evolving strategic threats.
Rocket Lab founder and chief executive officer Sir Peter Beck said the award reflects the company’s ability to deliver responsive launch services at the scale required by the US military.
“Cadence, iteration and relentless execution are essential to maturing America’s missile defence capabilities, and that’s exactly what we bring with launch leadership,” Beck said.
“The size and scale of this contract reflects the Space Force’s confidence in our ability to meet their urgent national security demands with speed, responsiveness and scale, and we’re proud to provide the high-frequency launch capacity required to keep the US ahead of global threats.”
The award further strengthens Rocket Lab’s position within the United States’ national security space enterprise, where demand for responsive launch services has grown significantly in recent years. Defence agencies are increasingly seeking commercial partners capable of delivering rapid, reliable and cost-effective launch solutions to support missile defence, hypersonic testing and advanced weapons development.
For Rocket Lab, the contract is another indicator of its evolution from a specialist small-launch provider into a diversified aerospace and defence company. Alongside its expanding launch business, the company has become a major supplier of spacecraft, satellite components and mission systems for civil, commercial and military customers.
As geopolitical competition intensifies and missile threats continue to evolve, the record contract positions Rocket Lab as an increasingly important partner in delivering the rapid testing and launch capability underpinning the next generation of US missile defence systems.
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