Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) has signed a contract with SSC Space for two Alpha rocket launches from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, with missions targeted no earlier than 2028, according to a company press release.

Under the agreement, SSC Space secured full payload capacity for both missions and can allocate space to government and commercial customers. The missions are intended to serve Sweden's national security customers as well as commercial rideshare customers.

The contract follows the establishment of transatlantic regulatory frameworks and the completion of key infrastructure at Launch Complex 3C at Esrange Space Center. Completed facilities include a launch control center, payload processing facility, launch vehicle integration building, tracking and control systems, and security and storage facilities. Final pad construction is ongoing.

"This contract validates the demand from European customers for long-awaited orbital launch capabilities directly from mainland Europe," said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace.

Charlotta Sund, CEO and Group President of SSC Space, said the agreement "underscores the strategic value of the transatlantic space capabilities we are building together with Firefly."

Firefly describes the arrangement as part of its "launch as a franchise" model, in which a partner secures launch capacity and distributes payload access to its own customers.