Rocket Lab to start launching missile-defense missions from Alaska under $266 million Space Force deal

Rocket Lab is expanding its launch capabilities with a new $266 million contract from the U.S. Space Force. This agreement secures up to 18 missile-defense missions for the company, most of which will originate from the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island in Alaska.

This site, known for its location in the northern latitudes, has a long history of supporting suborbital flights for the military. While the facility previously hosted missions for other private aerospace entities, the new deal cements a role for Rocket Lab in providing high-frequency, responsive launch options for national security hardware.

Company CEO Peter Beck confirmed the agreement today, noting the Space Force requires reliable access to space to keep pace with global threats. These missions will likely involve the HASTE rocket, a suborbital variant of the company's Electron vehicle. HASTE is designed specifically to test hypersonic technologies in real-world flight environments.

The contract includes 12 firm launches with an option for six additional flights. Although specific details regarding the payload remain limited, the missions are expected to support the Golden Dome initiative, a broader effort by the military to enhance missile-tracking capabilities from orbit. Rocket Lab maintains existing launch sites in New Zealand and Virginia, but the Alaska facility provides specific advantages for the trajectories required by these defense operations.