Rocket Lab Awarded $816M Prime Contract to Build Missile- Defense Satellite Constellation for U.S. Space Force
Rocket Lab••business
Key Points:
- Rocket Lab has secured its largest contract to date, valued at $816 million, from the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) to design and manufacture 18 satellites for the Tracking Layer Tranche 3 program, enhancing missile warning and defense capabilities.
- The satellites will feature Rocket Lab’s Phoenix infrared sensor payload and StarLite space protection sensors, with additional opportunities from supplying subsystems potentially raising the total contract value to approximately $1 billion.
- Leveraging its vertically integrated manufacturing approach, Rocket Lab will produce all major satellite components in-house, enabling faster, cost-efficient production and positioning itself as a disruptive competitor to traditional aerospace primes in national security space.
- This contract builds on a previous $515 million award from SDA for 18 satellites
