Rocket Lab: Allied Space Launch and Satellite Systems with Emerging Strategic Relevance for Europe

Rocket Lab is a New Zealand–founded, U.S.-headquartered aerospace firm that has rapidly grown into a vertically integrated space systems company. Its Electron small rocket and Photon satellite bus have made it a go-to provider for launching and operating LEO satellites, while its upcoming Neutron heavy rocket promises to extend its reach. For European defense planners, Rocket Lab represents both an opportunity and a caution. As a leading allied space vendor, it can deliver critical launch and sensor capabilities (for navigation, Earth observation, and missile warning) that complement Europe’s own programs[1][2]. At the same time, it is not a European-owned firm, so reliance on it requires balancing transatlantic cooperation with European sovereignty goals. This report explores Rocket Lab’s technologies and programs from a European strategic perspective, assessing how its capabilities fit into the EU/NATO agenda for autonomy, interoperability, deterrence, and supply chain resilience.