Blue Origin and Anduril have been awarded new study contracts by the U.S. Air Force to investigate how their technology, including rockets, could be used to transport military cargo globally.
The contracts, part of the Air Force’s Rocket Cargo program, are relatively small – Blue Origin’s contract is valued at $1.37 million, while Anduril’s is $1 million. However, these contracts could pave the way for transforming how the Pentagon moves cargo. They also serve as indicators of which companies may compete for larger funding opportunities in the future.
Of particular interest is Anduril’s contract, suggesting the defense startup is branching out into a new business line.
The awards fall under the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) program. Blue Origin and Anduril are both involved in this initiative, with a focus on developing commercial, reusable rockets and cargo transportation systems to enable rapid deliveries to remote areas.
Blue Origin’s contract involves analyzing how its technology could support point-to-point material transportation, with a specific focus on its New Glenn rocket development in Merritt Island, Florida. Anduril’s contract, under the REGAL program, pertains to a study on developing a reentry container capable of transporting 5 to 10 tons of payload from Earth and back.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco|October 27-29, 2025
The challenges of reentry in spaceflight are highlighted in Anduril’s proposal, emphasizing the need for a container that can withstand the rigors of atmospheric reentry while protecting its contents. This is a complex problem that few companies have successfully addressed.
These contract awards come on the heels of Rocket Lab’s REGAL contract announcement earlier this year, indicating a growing interest in leveraging commercial rockets for cargo transportation. The long-term vision includes the potential for point-to-point human transportation services as well.
