The U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital announced a conditional loan commitment of $150 million to Rocket Lab for its Neutron rocket program. The medium-lift rocket’s inaugural flight is targeted for no earlier than 2027. The funding is intended to help scale launch cadence after that flight.
The funds will support faster vehicle production and processing, expansion of the maritime fleet used for rocket recovery, and upgrades to manufacturing for composite structures and engines. These efforts aim to shorten the time between launches and strengthen Rocket Lab’s competitive position.
The commitment reflects Neutron’s strategic importance to national security and the goal of expanding U.S. domestic launch capacity. Rocket Lab must satisfy financial, legal and technical due diligence requirements before the loan is finalized.