Lockheed Martin selected Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket to fly as many as 25 missions for the defense contractor through 2029. The deal, announced June 5, commits Lockheed to 15 launch reservations and up to 10 optional missions. The Texas-based launch company set records for the U.S. Space Force in September 2023. Under the agreement with Lockheed, Firefly will launch Alpha from its facilities on the East and West Coast.
Bob Behnken, director of Lockheed’s Ignite Technology Acceleration organization, said the partnership with Firefly is a direct response to the Defense Department and other customers who have asked for faster deliveries of advanced space capabilities. The two companies previously teamed up for a responsive launch last December. However, the rocket experienced an anomaly during the mission. Firefly is also partnered with Northrop Grumman to develop a larger rocket, Medium Launch Vehicle.