Firefly Aerospace Secures 1.3 Billion Rocket Engine Contract With AST SpaceMobile

By EC Assets · Published 6 November 2026

Firefly Aerospace has agreed to a $1.3 billion contract to supply propulsion systems to AST SpaceMobile. The supplier will provide the rocket engines for AST SpaceMobile's planned launch vehicle. The partnership establishes a major supply commitment between the two aerospace companies as launch infrastructure development expands. AST SpaceMobile plans to develop its own reusable rocket, named Blacklift, under the initiative. The company intends to use the Blacklift launch vehicle to deploy its BlueBird communications satellites into low Earth orbit. Firefly Aerospace engines will power the propulsion systems for the reusable launch vehicle. Shares of Firefly Aerospace surged 23% on Friday following the announcement of the agreement. AST SpaceMobile shares also traded higher on the news. The transaction links Firefly Aerospace's propulsion manufacturing directly to the deployment schedule of AST SpaceMobile's orbital communications network. The $1.3 billion agreement represents a significant commercial commitment to dedicated satellite deployment hardware. By developing the Blacklift rocket with external engine support, AST SpaceMobile is seeking dedicated launch capacity for its low Earth orbit satellite constellation. The contract provides Firefly Aerospace with a substantial multi-year propulsion supply commitment. Market participants will monitor the technical integration of Firefly Aerospace engines into the Blacklift airframe as AST SpaceMobile advances its reusable rocket programme. Development milestones and launch timelines for the BlueBird satellite constellation will serve as key operational indicators for both companies. This article is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice.