The U.S. military is exploring the potential of commercial rockets for rapid global cargo delivery. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) recently awarded contracts to Blue Origin and Anduril Industries under its Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) program.
Blue Origin received $1.3 million to assess how its space vehicles can be adapted for “point-to-point” transport, launching cargo and deploying it at specific locations. Anduril Industries received $1 million for “design and analysis to integrate multiple potential government payloads into a rocket cargo delivery container or reentry system,” according to program manager Daniel Brown. "Blue Origin will assess how its space vehicles could be adapted for “point-to-point” transport — launching cargo payloads aboard a rocket from one location and deploying them at specific locations. Anduril’s award is for “design and analysis to integrate multiple potential government payloads into a rocket cargo delivery container or reentry system,” Brown said.
This initiative envisions using commercial launch systems on-demand, similar to airlines, delivering military cargo anywhere in under an hour. Potential uses include emergency supplies to conflict zones and humanitarian aid during disasters. For Blue Origin, this is their first contract focused on rocket cargo, following a 2021 feasibility study with U.S. Transportation Command. Anduril is a new participant in the REGAL program, which began in 2021 and has also awarded contracts to Sierra Space and Rocket Lab. The Pentagon’s interest in point-to-point rocket transport is long-standing, but cost and safety have hindered progress. The AFRL aims to leverage commercial providers as the technology matures, mirroring NASA's approach to space transport services.