United Launch Alliance

BActive (50/50 joint venture: Boeing & Lockheed Martin)Founded 2006🇺🇸Denver, Colorado

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CEO

John Elbon (interim)

Joint venture of

Boeing & Lockheed Martin

Data verified as of Jul 17, 2026

Summary

United Launch Alliance is Boeing and Lockheed Martin's launch-services joint venture for U.S. national security, NASA, and commercial customers. ULA says it has achieved more than 150 consecutive launches since 2006, and on July 2, 2026 it retired Atlas V from the Amazon campaign by flying Amazon's eighth and final Atlas V Leo mission (LEO 8) — taking ULA's Amazon Leo deliveries to 226 satellites across eight Atlas V flights — shifting the remaining Amazon backlog entirely onto Vulcan Centaur, which returned to national-security flight on June 11, 2026 with USSF-106 after resolving the February 12, 2026 USSF-87 solid-rocket-motor anomaly. Longtime CEO Tory Bruno resigned in December 2025 and joined Blue Origin's National Security Group; COO John Elbon is serving as interim CEO while ULA targets a 2026 cadence of 20-25 launches.

Main Products

Vulcan Centaur

Active

Next-generation medium-to-heavy-lift launch vehicle replacing Atlas V and Delta IV, powered by BE-4 engines.

First launch 2024 — certified by U.S. Space Force in March 2025. Operational for NSSL and commercial missions.

Payload to LEO27,200 kg

Payload to GTO14,400 kg

Height61.6 m (202 ft)

Engines (booster)2 × BE-4

Upper StageCentaur V

Cost per Launch~$110M

Atlas V

Active (winding down)

Workhorse medium-lift launch vehicle with a 100% mission success rate, being phased out in favor of Vulcan Centaur.

Operational since 2002 — remaining missions being flown before full transition to Vulcan Centaur.

Payload to LEO18,850 kg

Payload to GTO8,900 kg

Total Launches100+

Success Rate100%

Height58.3 m (191 ft)

Notable MissionsMars rovers, Juno, OSIRIS-REx, Starliner

Centaur V

Active

Advanced cryogenic upper stage for Vulcan, enabling high-energy orbits and deep space missions.

Operational on Vulcan Centaur since 2024 — evolved from the Centaur III used on Atlas V.

Engines2 × RL10C-1-1

PropellantLOX / LH2

Diameter5.4 m (17.7 ft)

Multiple restart capabilityYes

What's Next

Fly the first Vulcan Amazon Leo mission and rebuild the NSSL Vulcan manifest

With Vulcan returned to national-security flight on June 11, 2026 (USSF-106) after the USSF-87 booster anomaly was resolved, the next milestone is the first Amazon Leo mission on Vulcan — LV-01, targeted September 2026 from SLC-41 carrying 45 satellites on an optimized Centaur V — followed by working through the 38-launch Amazon Vulcan backlog and the NSSL Phase 3 manifest as cadence ramps.

2026

Bring SLC-3 at Vandenberg online for Vulcan

Finish the Vandenberg pad modifications (more than 83% complete) and fly the first West Coast Vulcan mission — SDA's Tranche 1 Tracking Layer B — establishing a second operational lane to support the 2026 cadence ramp.

2026

Hit the 18-22 launch cadence target

Rebuild launch cadence after the leadership transition by flying 16-18 Vulcans and 2-4 Atlas Vs in 2026, working through the 38-launch Amazon Vulcan backlog and the Phase 3 national-security manifest.

2026

Name a permanent CEO

Complete the board's executive search to replace Tory Bruno and confirm a permanent leader for ULA, with interim CEO John Elbon retaining the role while the search runs.

2026

Recent News

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Jul 2

ULA flies final Atlas V 551 on Amazon Leo mission

United Launch Alliance launched the last Atlas V in its powerful 551 configuration in the early hours of July 2 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, carrying 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites — a roughly 18-ton payload that tied the record for the heaviest load ever flown on an Atlas V. It was Amazon Leo's eighth and final launch on Atlas V, with future constellation flights shifting to ULA's next-generation Vulcan Centaur. Amazon said its low-Earth-orbit network stood at about 367 satellites before the mission, on the way to a planned fleet of more than 3,000.

Amazon Leo

Jun 17

ULA's Vulcan flies first national security mission, USSF-106

United Launch Alliance launched its Vulcan rocket on the USSF-106 mission for the U.S. Space Force on June 11, the rocket's first national security launch and ULA's 101st national security mission overall. The flight followed an anomaly investigation into a Vulcan solid rocket booster issue, resolved after a successful Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL static fire test in mid-April. ULA expects to fly 20 to 25 missions in 2026, including a September Vulcan launch carrying 45 Amazon Leo satellites on an optimized Centaur V upper stage.

Amazon Leo

Operations & Revenue

StatusOperational (Vulcan returned to NSSL flight June 2026)

Atlas V has now completed its Amazon Leo campaign: LEO 8 (LA-08), the eighth and final Atlas V Amazon Leo mission, flew on July 2, 2026 with 29 satellites, bringing ULA's cumulative Amazon deliveries to 226 satellites across eight Atlas V flights and shifting the remaining Amazon backlog entirely onto Vulcan. Vulcan returned to national-security flight on June 11, 2026 with the USSF-106 mission — its first NSSL launch since the February 12, 2026 USSF-87 solid-rocket-motor anomaly and ULA's 101st national security mission — after Northrop Grumman passed a GEM 63XL static fire validating nozzle design enhancements and completed corrective actions. ULA now targets 20-25 launches in 2026, including a September Vulcan flight (LV-01) carrying 45 Amazon Leo satellites; SLC-3 at Vandenberg is being readied to host the first West Coast Vulcan launch later in 2026. As of mid-July 2026 ULA had not launched again since LEO 8, with its next Vulcan flight (LV-01, 45 Amazon Leo satellites) targeted for September 2026.

Revenue Streams

National Security Launches

Primary revenue source — ULA won 40% of the Space Force's NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 missions for the most demanding national-security orbits. Vulcan returned to national-security flight on June 11, 2026 with USSF-106 (ULA's 101st national security mission) after resolving the February 2026 USSF-87 booster anomaly, clearing the NSSL Vulcan manifest to resume.

NASA Missions

Launch services for NASA science missions including Mars rovers, solar probes, and crewed Starliner flights. In March 2026 NASA also selected ULA's Centaur V as the new SLS upper stage from Artemis IV onward, adding a recurring deep-space hardware line beyond launch services.

Commercial Launches

Commercial launch services anchored by Amazon's Leo (Project Kuiper) constellation campaign. Atlas V completed its Amazon Leo campaign on July 2, 2026 with LEO 8 — its eighth and final Amazon mission — leaving the remaining Amazon backlog (38 contracted Vulcan launches) entirely on Vulcan, with the first Vulcan Amazon Leo flight (LV-01, 45 satellites) targeted for September 2026.

Key Metrics

Employees

~2,700

Est. Annual Revenue

Not publicly disclosed; backlog includes $5.3B for 19 Space Force missions through 2029 plus 38 contracted Amazon Vulcan launches

Consecutive Launch Successes

160+ (streak intact through the final Atlas V Amazon mission, LEO 8, on July 2, 2026)

National Security Missions

101 (through USSF-106, Vulcan's return-to-flight on June 11, 2026; next NSSL Vulcan flight expected later in 2026)

Amazon Leo Satellites Delivered

226 (across eight Atlas V flights through LEO 8, July 2, 2026 — final Atlas V Amazon Leo mission; remaining Amazon backlog now on Vulcan, first Vulcan Amazon flight LV-01 targeted Sept 2026)

2026 Launch Cadence Goal

18-22 (16-18 Vulcan + 2-4 Atlas V)

Vulcan Backlog (Amazon)

38 Vulcan launches contracted (first Amazon Leo Vulcan flight LV-01 targeted Sept 2026, 45 satellites each)

Timeline

2026USSF-87 launches on Vulcan

Vulcan flies its first post-certification national security mission, delivering USSF-87 directly to GEO; ULA then begins corrective actions after a solid-rocket-motor anomaly observed during ascent.

2026Tory Bruno resigns; John Elbon named interim CEO

ULA's board confirms long-serving President and CEO Tory Bruno is leaving the company after nearly 12 years; COO John Elbon, a 35-year Boeing veteran, takes over as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. Bruno later joins Blue Origin to lead a new National Security Group.

2026NASA selects ULA's Centaur V as new SLS upper stage

On March 6, 2026 NASA awards ULA a sole-source contract to adapt the Vulcan-derived Centaur V as the new upper stage for the SLS Moon rocket from Artemis IV onward, dropping Boeing's long-delayed Exploration Upper Stage. The agency chose Centaur V over Blue Origin's New Glenn upper stage on schedule and RL10-heritage grounds, standardizing SLS in a near-Block 1 configuration to support a cadence of roughly one launch every 10 months.

2026GEM 63XL static fire test passes

Northrop Grumman successfully static-fires a GEM 63XL solid rocket booster on April 15, validating nozzle design enhancements as ULA continues the USSF-87 anomaly investigation. Northrop Grumman takes a $71M charge to fund corrective actions.

2026Atlas V LEO 7 brings Amazon Leo to 331 satellites

Atlas V launches the LEO 7 mission on May 29, 2026, lofting another 29 Amazon Leo satellites and bringing the constellation total to 331 (ULA has delivered 197 of them across seven Atlas V flights). Two Atlas V Amazon Leo missions remain.

2026Vulcan returns to flight with USSF-106

Vulcan flies the USSF-106 national security mission for the U.S. Space Force on June 11, 2026 — its first national security launch since the February USSF-87 booster anomaly and ULA's 101st national security mission overall — clearing Vulcan to resume the NSSL manifest after the GEM 63XL corrective actions. A Vulcan flight carrying 45 Amazon Leo satellites on an optimized Centaur V is targeted for September 2026.

2026Final Atlas V flies LEO 8, closing the Atlas V Amazon campaign

Atlas V flies its eighth and final Amazon Leo mission, LEO 8 (LA-08), on July 2, 2026 from SLC-41 — a 551-configuration vehicle (five solid rocket boosters) lofting 29 satellites weighing about 18 tons, tying the heaviest payload ever launched by an Atlas V. The mission takes ULA's cumulative Amazon Leo deliveries to 226 satellites across eight Atlas V flights and retires Atlas V from the Amazon campaign, shifting the remaining Amazon backlog entirely onto Vulcan.

2025Vulcan certified and operational

Vulcan Centaur is certified by the U.S. Space Force for national security missions. Begins operational NSSL and commercial launches.

2025Wins Phase 3 national security award

The U.S. Space Force selects ULA for 40% of NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 missions, extending Vulcan's national-security backlog into the next decade.

2025Leadership transition

Tory Bruno resigns after nearly 12 years as CEO and John Elbon is named interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor.

2024Vulcan Centaur first launch

Vulcan Centaur successfully launches on its maiden flight from Cape Canaveral.

2023Final Delta IV Heavy launch

Retires the Delta IV Heavy after its final national security mission.

2018Vulcan Centaur announced

Unveils next-generation Vulcan Centaur to replace both Atlas V and Delta IV.

201250th consecutive successful launch

Reaches 50 launches with 100% mission success rate.

2007First Atlas V national security launch

Begins regular cadence of Atlas V missions for NRO and DoD.

2006Founded

Boeing and Lockheed Martin form ULA as a joint venture for government launches.

Funding

Round	Date	Amount	Investors
Joint venture formation	2006	N/A	Boeing, Lockheed Martin (50/50 JV)
NSSL Phase 2 contract	2020	~$3.5B	U.S. Space Force (60% of NSSL missions)
NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 award	2025-04	40% of Phase 3 Lane 2 missions (~$5.3B backlog for 19 Space Force missions through 2029)	U.S. Space Force