# AST SpaceMobile Develops Blacklift Rocket

AST SpaceMobile has entered agreements with Firefly Aerospace totaling approximately $1.3 billion to develop its reusable Blacklift rocket and bring engine manufacturing in-house. The package includes an approximately $800 million perpetual license for AST to manufacture Firefly’s Miranda and Vira engines, plus $250 million for engines for the first three Blacklift rockets and $250 million for engineering services. Launches are planned to begin in late 2028. AST says the capability will support government customers and missions under its DPAS-rated program; the signal also links that support to Golden Dome. The agreements are commercial supplier arrangements, not an open government solicitation or a disclosed government contract award.

- The planned engine-manufacturing capability could expand the supply chain available for future government launch missions, but the agreements themselves do not present a current bidding opportunity.
- The deal includes a three-year engineering-services period and engines for the first three rockets; suppliers may assess whether their capabilities fit AST or Firefly’s emerging production and support needs.
- Contractors evaluating launch-sector opportunities should distinguish AST’s commercial investment and stated government-mission plans from funded government requirements or solicitations.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Transportation
**Published:** November 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Government (USG)

### Vendors
- AST SpaceMobile (Blacklift rocket developer and engine licensee)
- Firefly Aerospace (Engine supplier and engineering services provider)

### Key Quotes
> When a company sets out to build its own rocket, the engine is the hardest, highest-stakes decision they make, and AST SpaceMobile has chosen to partner with Firefly for its most powerful rocket engines.
> — Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace

> The Miranda engine will allow us to leapfrog the traditional five-to-ten-year development cycle as we build Blacklift.
> — Scott Wisniewski, President of AST SpaceMobile

### Sources
- [$ASTS Defense TAMs

DPAS secured in support of Golden Dome

https://t.co/0VKiVajryW

https://t.co/HKw2D8UfG5 https://t.co/5Dn22qhESK](https://x.com/OmniAeronautica/status/2119797660274298976) - twitter-defense