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RocketLab FY revenue up 38% YoY

February 27, 2026

By Chris Forrester

Sir Peter Beck’s RocketLab business, based in New Zealand and the US, has issued some strong numbers in its Q4 and full year results. Annual revenue was $602 million (€510m), up 38 per cent YOY -whilst Q4 was $180 million, and the company reported a record backlog that’s up 73 per cent on 2024 at $1.85 billion.

Beck told analysts that the company’s gross profits had increased by 85 per cent year-on-year.

He also announced that RocketLab, during Q4, had acquired Optical Support (OSI), a specialist in the design, engineering and manufacturing of custom, high-precision optical (laser) and optomechanical instruments.

OSI’s advanced lenses and optomechanical systems are critical enablers for national security and commercial satellites, and are key subsystems used in Rocket Lab Optical Systems’ high-performance payloads for space protection, space domain awareness, missile warning, tracking and defense. OSI delivers end-to-end solutions from concept design and prototyping to full-scale production including CNC machining, optical alignment, cleanroom assembly and testing.

As a key supplier to Geost, which was acquired by Rocket Lab in August 2025 and now forms part of RocketLab Optical Systems, Rocket Lab has extensive experience working with the OSI team, providing a high degree of trust and familiarity with their technology and capabilities.

The transaction further cements Rocket Lab’s position as a disruptive vertically integrated prime contractor for the US military as well as OSI’s extensive capabilities in optics and optomechanical systems span a variety of industries and have enabled programmes including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, Sphere Las Vegas, and US Government Defense and Intelligence missions.

Beck said that OSI was avery attractive buy. “We’ve been developing these silicon arrays and power solutions for a while now, focusing on mega constellations / high volume power applications – if you stand back objectively and you think what are all the challenges with putting data centers in orbit, it boils down to really three things”:

1: Cost/cadence of launch
2: Heat rejection
3: Power

“Now we’re expanding into silicon – enabling the mega constellations and national security missions of today, as well as the gigawatt-class, kilometer-wide scale space-based data centers of the future,” he added.

Beck also gave further information on a problem which affected a test on its new Neutron rocket when a Stage 1 tank ruptured during a hydrostatic pressure test in January 2026 after reaching anticipated flight loads. He explained that the subsequent investigation found a manufacturing defect that reduced strength at a critical tank joint. The failed tank was built by a third-party contractor using a manual hand-lay process. A design change is being implemented to add margin and improve manufacturability in the affected area. The design change, new tank production timeline, and expanded testing program have delayed development. Neutron’s first launch is now targeted for Q4 2026.

Beck also touched on its $150 million acquisition of Germany-based Mynaric which he said was still undergoing regulatory review by the German government (a competitive bid is being made by a German-based company). “Do not believe everything you read in the media or online” with respect to rumors going around about Mynaric acquisition,” said Beck. RocketLab is working with the German regulators to satisfy foreign investment requirements.

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