The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has boosted its investment in Blue Origin’s rocket-based logistics capabilities, awarding an $11.7 million contract modification to the aerospace firm. This latest funding increment raises the total value of the existing agreement to approximately $13 million. The project focuses on assessing how Blue Origin’s launch technology can facilitate rapid, point-to-point cargo delivery missions, a core objective of the Department of Defense’s push to modernize military supply chains.

This initiative operates under the broader umbrella of the Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) program. Established in 2021 as a “Vanguard” technology program, REGAL is designed to provide the U.S. military with the ability to resupply deployed forces anywhere on Earth within a single hour. According to Payload Space, current traditional logistics—such as relying on C-17 cargo aircraft—often require flying through contested airspace and can take hours or even days to complete. By utilizing orbital trajectories to move goods from the U.S. to global hotspots, the military aims to bypass these geographical and tactical vulnerabilities.

Blue Origin is one of several industry players participating in the government’s shift toward space-based logistics. Other notable efforts include SpaceX’s $102 million contract to evaluate the Starship vehicle for heavy-lift missions, Sierra Space’s development of its “Ghost” reentry platform, and Anduril’s work on specialized reentry containers. Additionally, Rocket Lab is currently preparing for a demonstration mission scheduled for 2026. As the REGAL program continues to serve as the experimentation arm of the military’s overarching Rocket Cargo project, the industry is increasingly focused on developing the necessary infrastructure—ranging from orbital storage solutions to precise landing systems—to make rapid, space-based resupply a functional reality for the armed forces.