SpaceX Secures $1.05B Superalloy Deal with South Korea’s Sphere Corp

SpaceX has inked a decade-long $1.05 billion supply agreement with South Korea’s Sphere Corporation, marking a strategic pivot toward outsourcing specialized aerospace materials. The deal, extendable by three years, will provide critical nickel-based superalloys for rocket engines and launch components through 2035.

Sphere’s Tier 1 supplier status reflects its rare capability in high-performance alloys, with $55.48 million in deliveries slated for 2026 alone. The partnership accelerates as SpaceX ramps up Starship launches following FAA approval, exposing supply chain vulnerabilities in the burgeoning space economy.

Elon Musk’s firm is tempering its legendary vertical integration, outsourcing niche manufacturing while retaining control over core technologies. The MOVE mirrors broader aerospace trends as production scales beyond what even the most capable vertically integrated players can sustain internally.