Firefly secures contract worth more than $1 billion to supply engines for AST rocket

Key Facts

AST SpaceMobile announced an agreement with Firefly Aerospace to supply rocket engines for the Blacklift project in a deal worth more than $1 billion, according to the companies’ announcement on November 6, 2026. The agreement gives AST a license to manufacture the engines, alongside supply and engineering support from Firefly, according to Firefly’s official announcement. AST plans to build the rocket itself as part of a vertical integration strategy that includes a launch vehicle for its satellites. The company said Blacklift is a dedicated reusable rocket. It is targeting the start of its use to launch BlueBird satellites in late 2028, putting execution on a timeline of about two years from the announcement date.

The rocket is designed to carry up to five BlueBird satellites per launch, according to AST. This design gives the company the option to launch several satellites on the same flight, based on the payload it announced. AST says Blacklift will complement its vertical integration strategy, but the announcement does not mean it will immediately shift to launching satellites itself. It confirmed that it will continue using external launch providers. Its agreements with them cover the launch of more than 100 BlueBird satellites in total during 2027 and 2028, before the targeted start date for Blacklift flights.

These external arrangements keep the satellite deployment plan on track during the period before Blacklift is targeted to enter service. According to AST, the satellites covered by the agreements are scheduled to be deployed cumulatively between 2027 and 2028. This means the company is combining external launches for upcoming missions with development of its own rocket over the longer term. The Firefly contract adds an engine supplier and engineering expertise to that effort, while the license gives AST the ability to manufacture the engines itself. The structure of the deal shows that in-house rocket development does not eliminate the company’s current reliance on launch partners.

In trading, Firefly shares rose about 18% after the announcement, while AST SpaceMobile shares gained about 1%, according to a Reuters report published via Investing.com on November 6. Firefly shares closed at $15.18 in the November 5 session, while AST shares closed at $30.2 in the same session, according to EL7 data. The closing prices preceded the announcement published the following day, while the cited moves reflect the market’s response afterward. The percentage change differed between the two stocks, with Firefly’s rise larger than AST’s gain following the deal. The reported data did not include a separate explanation for either stock’s movement.

AST is scheduled to unveil Blacklift at an event in New York City on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with a webcast on its investor relations website, according to the company’s schedule. The event follows the announcement of the agreement with Firefly and will showcase the rocket at the center of its in-house launch plan. The operational target announced by the company remains late 2028 for starting to carry BlueBird satellites using Blacklift. Until then, AST says external launch providers will continue to conduct the flights covered by its agreements. The plan therefore combines a near-term unveiling of the rocket, external launches during 2027 and 2028, and a later target to begin using the new rocket.