Rocket Lab Secures $190M Hypersonic Launch Deal, Backlog Tops $2B
Rocket Lab won a $190 million contract for 20 hypersonic test flights under the MACH-TB 2.0 program led by Kratos, deploying its HASTE vehicle over four years. The award boosts the company’s backlog above $2 billion across 70+ missions and maintains a 100% HASTE success rate since 2023.
1. Hypersonic Flight Contract
Rocket Lab secured a $190 million agreement to conduct 20 hypersonic test flights for the MACH-TB 2.0 Task Area 1 program led by Kratos. The contract represents the largest single-launch deal in the company’s history and leverages its HASTE small launch vehicle.
2. Program Scope and Timeline
Under the four-year agreement, Rocket Lab will execute flights supporting the Test Resource Management Center’s Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed. The first mission is slated to occur within months of contract signing, with subsequent launches paced throughout the period.
3. Backlog and Performance Metrics
This deal lifts Rocket Lab’s total backlog to over $2 billion, covering more than 70 upcoming missions across launch and space systems. Since 2023, the HASTE vehicle has maintained a flawless 100% success record, reinforcing confidence in the platform’s reliability.
4. Analyst Rating and Growth Drivers
Clear Street initiated coverage on Rocket Lab with a Buy rating and an $88 price target, highlighting three growth catalysts: the reusable Neutron rocket debut scheduled for Q4 2026, Electron’s aim for 52 annual launches by 2030, and expansion of prime contracts in the Space Systems segment.