Rocket Lab Awarded $30 Million Contract for HASTE Hypersonic Rocket Launches for Anduril
Rhea-AI Summary
Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) announced a $30 million multi-launch contract with Anduril for three HASTE hypersonic test launches from Launch Complex 2 in Virginia. The first mission is scheduled in less than 12 months, and Anduril will fully fund the tests from internal capital. Rocket Lab highlighted its 100% HASTE mission success rate since 2023. These new missions, plus an earlier 20-launch purchase by TRMC, account for almost a third of Rocket Lab’s 70+ launch backlog.
Positive
- $30 million contract for three HASTE launches
- First HASTE mission scheduled in less than 12 months
- Anduril will fully fund the three test launches
- 100% mission success rate for HASTE since 2023
- TRMC purchase of 20 HASTE launches already on record
- New and existing HASTE work ≈ one-third of 70+ backlog
Negative
- None.
Market Reaction – RKLB
Following this news, RKLB has gained 4.58%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Our momentum scanner has triggered 18 alerts so far, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $82.18. This price movement has added approximately $1.98B to the company's valuation.
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Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
RKLB is up 7.48% while peers show mixed, mostly modest moves: BWXT +3.23%, WWD +1.59%, TXT +0.25%, CW -0.18%, ESLT -0.66%, indicating a largely stock-specific reaction.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29 | Sector spotlight | Positive | -2.0% | Article highlighted beneficiaries of space and defense budget and test bottlenecks. |
| Apr 23 | Product launch | Positive | -5.8% | Unveiled High-Performance Star Tracker for long-duration, high-radiation missions. |
| Apr 23 | Defense AI deal | Neutral | -6.0% | Coverage of VisionWave AI acquisition in broader defense technology context. |
| Apr 23 | Launch completion | Positive | -6.0% | Completed second dedicated JAXA mission, Rocket Lab’s 8th launch of 2026. |
| Apr 16 | Earnings date set | Neutral | +2.3% | Announced schedule for release of Q1 2026 financial results and call. |
Recent positive operational and product news events often coincided with short-term share price declines, indicating a pattern of negative or muted reactions to favorable updates.
Over the past month, Rocket Lab has reported multiple operational milestones, including JAXA’s "Kakushin Rising" mission and a new High-Performance Star Tracker, alongside an upcoming Q1 2026-05-07 earnings release. Sector commentary highlighted growing U.S. space and defense budgets and test capacity needs. Despite largely positive fundamentals and contract wins, several of these news items were followed by share price declines, making today’s defense contract-driven strength a departure from that recent pattern.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement adds a $30 million multi-launch HASTE hypersonic test contract with Anduril, reinforcing Rocket Lab’s role in high-speed defense testing with a 100% HASTE mission success rate since 2023. Together with 20 HASTE launches purchased by TRMC and a 70+ launch backlog, the deal deepens visibility in hypersonics. Investors may watch execution timing, additional defense awards, and how these missions translate into sustained revenue and margin contributions over time.
Key Terms
hypersonic technical
launch vehicle technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
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
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Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
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.
