REGAL - RKLB Wiki

[[Home|🏠]] > [[Contracts & Vehicles]] > REGAL >[!summary] REGAL – Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics >**Customer**: [[U.S. Air Force]] Research Laboratory (AFRL), [[USTRANSCOM]] >**Type**: Multiple-award ARA [(FA8650-21-S-9307)](https://sam.gov/opp/b9c0f8d7662d4cb9a7f6112862680c49/view) >**Ceiling**: Not fixed >**Period**: Awards through **July 2027** >**Vehicle**: [[Electron]], [[Photon]], [[Neutron]] > >REGAL is the U.S. Air Force’s flight-test program for the **Rocket Cargo Vanguard**, aiming to demonstrate < 1-hour, point-to-point cargo delivery using commercial space launch vehicles. Missions include launch, hypersonic re-entry, precision landing, and rapid offload. > 🔗 [Rocket Cargo for Agile Global Logistics](https://afresearchlab.com/technology/successstories/rocket-cargo-for-agile-global-logistics/) ![[Pasted image 20250803155249.jpg|300]] ## Activity ### CRADA with [[USTRANSCOM]] 6 Sep 2022 Rocket Lab signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with [[USTRANSCOM]] to explore using **[[Neutron]]**, **[[Electron]]**, and **[[Photon]]** to transport cargo globally. - Investigated on-orbit **[[Photon]] depots** for cargo staging and re-entry - Modeled logistics timelines, G-force constraints, and delivery architectures - Supported early requirements development for the **Rocket Cargo Vanguard** 🔗 [Press Release](https://www.rocketlabusa.com/updates/rocket-lab-signs-agreement-with-ustranscom-to-explore-using-neutron-and-electron-rockets-to-deliver-cargo-around-the-world/) > *This CRADA was non-monetary, but paved the way for future flight demos under REGAL.* ### REGAL Call 002 Task Order: Neutron Return-to-Earth Demo 8 May 2025 Rocket Lab was awarded a task order under REGAL Call 002 to conduct a full **return-to-Earth Neutron mission** for cargo survivability testing. - Launches a mass-representative payload aboard **Neutron** - Performs controlled re-entry and landing with full cargo intact - Evaluates TPS, dynamic loads, landing accuracy, and rapid offload 🔗 [Press Release](https://www.rocketlabusa.com/updates/rocket-lab-partners-with-u-s-air-force-for-neutron-launch-for-re-entry-mission/) #### Estimated Contract Value: Unknown - **$54.2M** earmarked in AFRL’s FY25 budget for 'Rocket Cargo' flight testing, this likely includes [SpaceX's 5 year, ~$100m task order](https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-102-million-air-force-contract-to-demonstrate-technologies-for-point-to-point-space-transportation/) - **$4M** supplement provided by the U.S. Space Force logistics office - Source: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/afrl-taps-rocket-lab-for-space-cargo-experiment/ ![[Pasted image 20250803171931.png]] > [!quote] Peter Beck (CEO) > “This opportunity for the U.S. Air Force not only helps to advance space logistics, it also demonstrates a high degree of confidence by the DoD in Neutron’s capabilities.” ## How REGAL Works | Element | Description | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Program Type** | Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) - FA8650-21-S-9307 | | **Lead Org** | [[U.S. Air Force]] AFRL - Rocket Cargo Program Office | | **Partner Orgs** | [[USTRANSCOM]], [[U.S. Space Force]] | | **Calls** | Call 001 - operational capability demos Call 002 - point-to-point logistics missions | | **Award Size** | Variable | | **Test Metrics** | Landing precision (< 100 m), 40-ft ISO offload ≤ 1 hr, G-loads, re-entry TPS, total delivery cost vs. C-17 | | **Sites** | Landing zones at **Johnston Atoll**, **Wake Island**, and future DoD-controlled pads | ## Awards to Date | Date | Awardee / Tech | Value | Purpose | | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | Jan 2022 | [**SpaceX - Starship**](https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-102-million-air-force-contract-to-demonstrate-technologies-for-point-to-point-space-transportation/) | $102M | Separate OTA for 100 t-class Rocket Cargo R&D | | Oct 2024 | **Sierra Space - “Ghost” TPS** | NTE $5M | Inflatable decelerator scale-up for 5-10 t class payloads | | 08 May 2025 | **Rocket Lab - Neutron** | Unknown | Return-to-Earth launch demo for cargo survivability | | 01 Aug 2025 | **Blue Origin - New Glenn study** | $1.37M | Trade study on logistics architecture & interfaces | ## Context & Next Steps - **Vanguard Roadmap** -> CRADA studies -> REGAL flight demos -> full operational capability under USSF - **DoD Need** -> Deliver Patriot batteries, radar kits, or humanitarian supplies faster than airlift - **Future Scale** -> 100 t delivery with Starship / similar, or 10-13 t modular drops with reusable Neutron ## News %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: start ``` table published as "Published" from "News" where contains(contract, [[]]) sort published desc ``` %% | File | Published | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------ | | [[News/Rocket Lab Partners With U.S. Air Force for Neutron Launch for Re-Entry Mission.md\|Rocket Lab Partners With U.S. Air Force for Neutron Launch for Re-Entry Mission]] | May 08, 2025 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Signs Agreement with USTRANSCOM to Explore Using Neutron and Electron Rockets to Deliver Cargo Around the World.md\|Rocket Lab Signs Agreement with USTRANSCOM to Explore Using Neutron and Electron Rockets to Deliver Cargo Around the World]] | September 06, 2022 | %% DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: end %%