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Space Force awards Rocket Lab a record $266M multi-launch contract for up to 18 suborbital missile-defense missions from Alaska

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Rocket Lab a $266 million multi-launch contract for suborbital missile-defense testing under its Rocket Systems Launch Program. The deal covers 12 missions over three years, with an option for up to six additional launches, starting no earlier than late 2026 from a new launch pad at Kodiak, Alaska.

Discovered 2026-07-27T04:10:19.153796-07:00 | 2026-07-27T04:10:19.153796-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

A $266 million, multi-launch award shows sustained U.S. reliance on space-enabled sensing and testing to validate missile-defense concepts, with Rocket Lab positioned as a launch partner for missions of “significant national importance.”
The contract’s operational footprint is Alaska-centric: 12 launches over three years with possible expansion to up to 18 missions starting no earlier than late 2026 from Kodiak’s new launch pad—important for basing, cadence, and national security launch capacity.
The cluster connects launch services to live test activities for advanced military capabilities, including the Space Force’s role in broader missile-defense and electronic warfare experimentation (e.g., the Hammer of the Gods sea trial).

Reported By

rnz.co.nz Space.com Air & Space Forces Mag Satellite Evolution satnews.com realcleardefense.com