WASHINGTON — Blue Origin has been awarded a $2.3 billion contract for its New Glenn program to serve as a National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2 heavy-lift provider for the nation’s most critical missions.

New Glenn’s BE-4 engines are built at the company’s rocket plant in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park.

“It’s an honor and huge responsibility to team with the U.S. government to launch our nation’s most important assets,” said Jarrett Jones, senior vice president, New Glenn. “Through this partnership, we’re looking forward to delivering on a number of critical national security priorities.”

The $2,386,234,812 contract tasks New Glenn with missions to stressing orbits requiring higher performance launch systems and full mission assurance as a Space Systems Command (SSC)-certified launch vehicle. The payloads delivered will support the nation’s strategic advantage in space.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, highlighted the critical role of space dominance in national security.

“America leads the world in space launch, and through these NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts, we will ensure continued access to this vital domain,” he said. “These awards bolster our ability to launch critical defense satellites while strengthening our industrial base and enhancing operational readiness.”

This is the third national security launch-related contract Blue Origin has been awarded in the past year.

In June 2024, Blue Origin won a contract to compete for NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 missions. The company won a contract in July 2024 to compete for missions in the Orbital Services Program, which allows New Glenn to compete for task orders intended to put capabilities on orbit within two years.

Blue Origin, as the Requirement 3 provider is projected to be awarded seven Phase 3 Lane 2 missions starting in Order Year 2.

January’s NG-1 launch was the company’s first NSSL certification flight, and expects to fly New Glenn 2 in late spring.