LONG BEACH, Calif., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has been selected by defense technology company Anduril Industries for multiple hypersonic test flights with its HASTE launch vehicle. The partnership brings together two defense industry leaders to advance one of the Department of War’s most critical technology areas: scaled hypersonics that deliver Mach 5 and beyond capabilities for future defense missions.
The multi-launch contract includes three HASTE hypersonic test launches that will take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia. Each mission will serve as a testbed to accelerate the development of hypersonic technologies, fully funded through Anduril’s own internal capital. This approach underscores Anduril’s longstanding commitment to rapidly testing and maturing the capabilities that will define the future of American defense. In a showcase of Rocket Lab’s responsive space capabilities, the first of these three missions is set to launch in less than 12 months: demonstrating contract to launch in a matter of months, not years.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “HASTE represents speed, affordability, and reliable hypersonic technology testing, and that’s a powerful combination for the United States’ government and industry partners like Anduril. Together, Rocket Lab and Anduril are bridging the gap between hypersonic research and operational deployment as fast as possible to ensure U.S. armed forces maintain a decisive technological advantage.”
“Anduril is proud to partner with Rocket Lab to advance one of the most complex problems in defense,” said Anduril’s SVP of Engineering Gokul Subramanian. “This collaboration exemplifies Anduril’s approach to solving the hardest problems in the space domain, working together with the best of the space industrial base to rapidly deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions.”
Rocket Lab is a national leader in hypersonic testing. Building on a 100% mission success rate since HASTE launches began in 2023, these new missions with Anduril leverage Rocket Lab’s proven commercial model for frequent and reliable hypersonic flight tests. This latest HASTE block buy follows another significant milestone for Rocket Lab: the purchase of 20 HASTE launches over a four-year period by the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) for its MACH-TB 2.0 program, a Department of War effort to rapidly accelerate hypersonic flight tests that advance aerospace technologies shaping the future of defense. Together, these new and existing HASTE contracts represent almost a third of Rocket Lab’s 70+ launches in backlog.
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Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
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About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is a leading space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads, and satellite components serving commercial, government, and national security markets. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket is the world’s most frequently launched orbital small rocket; its HASTE rocket provides hypersonic test launch capability for the U.S. government and allied nations; and its Neutron launch vehicle in development will unlock medium launch for constellation deployment, national security and exploration missions. Rocket Lab’s spacecraft and satellite components have enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning commercial, defense and national security missions including GPS, constellations, and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Rocket Lab is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange (RKLB). Learn more at www.rocketlabcorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.rocketlabcorp.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
