AST SpaceMobile signs Firefly engine deal for Blacklift rocket

AST SpaceMobile signed agreements with Firefly Aerospace on November 6, 2026 to secure engines and manufacturing rights for its proposed Blacklift rocket. Firefly disclosed the transaction in its quarterly filing, estimating the cash-and-stock consideration at approximately $1.3 billion. The deal supports a satellite operator’s move into launch vehicle development; it does not establish that Blacklift is ready to fly.

Firefly’s announcement specifies 36 engines: 27 Miranda engines and nine vacuum-variant Vira engines for the first three Blacklift rockets. The package also includes engineering support over three years and a licence allowing AST to manufacture the engines. Firefly said it retains ownership of the engine intellectual property and will continue serving government and commercial launch customers.

AST’s announcement puts the upfront licence consideration at approximately $800 million, comprising $400 million in cash and 10 million to 14 million shares. The share count depends on a future volume-weighted average trading price. AST also disclosed $250 million for engine deliveries and $250 million for engineering support over three years. These are the company’s stated agreement terms, rather than a report of completed payments.

Firefly’s filing adds that payment is subject to customary contractual milestones and that it is still evaluating the transaction’s financial statement impact. Its approximately $1.3 billion estimate includes equity, so the transaction value should not be read as cash already received.

AST plans a reusable rocket capable of carrying up to five BlueBird satellites per launch, with operations targeted to begin in late 2028. It also plans a new engine manufacturing facility in the United States. Those capabilities, the factory and the launch schedule remain planned outcomes in the announcement, which identifies anticipated Blacklift timing and performance as forward-looking statements.

The company is developing a satellite network to provide cellular broadband directly to standard mobile phones. AST said Blacklift would supplement its existing launch arrangements: it will continue using external providers, with agreements covering more than 100 BlueBird satellites expected to be deployed cumulatively in 2027 and 2028. That is a satellite count, not a count of launches.

For Firefly, the stated near-term use of the additional funds is to expand launch production and testing, including hiring, long-lead materials and new test bays in Briggs, Texas.