Nov. 6, 2026 — Firefly Aerospace has signed an agreement worth more than $1.3 billion to supply engines for a new rocket being developed by satellite communications company AST SpaceMobile, highlighting growing efforts among space companies to secure reliable access to launch services.
The agreement, announced Friday, is a central part of AST SpaceMobile’s plan to develop its own rocket, called Blacklift, as it works to deploy a global satellite broadband network and reduce its dependence on third-party launch providers such as SpaceX.
Under the deal, Firefly will manufacture and supply 27 of its new Miranda engines and nine Vira in-space engines for the first three Blacklift rockets. The agreement also gives AST a license to eventually manufacture the engines itself.
Firefly shares rose approximately 18% following the announcement, while AST SpaceMobile shares gained about 1%.
Blacklift Rocket Targets Late 2028 Debut
AST SpaceMobile is targeting a late-2028 debut launch for Blacklift, an ambitious development schedule for the new vehicle.
The company said the rocket is designed for reusability and will be capable of carrying up to five of its BlueBird satellites per launch.
Developing its own launch vehicle would give AST greater control over the deployment of its satellite constellation, which is intended to provide global cellular broadband service directly to mobile phones.
The company still plans to rely on external launch providers and has more than 100 launch agreements in place. Its broader deployment target is 248 satellites to complete its planned global network.
Approximately a dozen BlueBird satellites have launched since 2024 aboard rockets operated by SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and the Indian Space Research Organisation.
However, AST has also experienced launch-related setbacks. In April, an issue involving Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket placed a BlueBird satellite in a lower-than-planned orbit, leading to its eventual deorbiting days later.
Satellite Companies Seek Greater Control Over Launch Access
The Firefly agreement comes as satellite operators face increasing difficulty securing launch capacity.
Major rocket providers, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and, in the future, Rocket Lab, are increasingly allocating launch schedules to their own satellite constellation projects.
This has intensified competition for available launch opportunities among companies that depend on external providers to deploy their spacecraft.
AST’s decision to develop Blacklift reflects a broader effort to secure greater control over its launch requirements while continuing to maintain relationships with outside providers.
The company said it still intends to use third-party rockets despite its plans to develop an in-house launch capability.
$1.3 Billion Agreement Boosts Firefly’s Production Plans
For Firefly Aerospace, the deal provides substantial funding to expand engine production, testing capacity and its engineering workforce.
Firefly CEO Jason Kim said the agreement would strengthen the company’s manufacturing operations and help it prepare for growing demand.
The investment is expected to support additional testing facilities at Rocket Ranch, the company’s manufacturing and testing hub in Briggs, Texas, approximately 20 miles (32 km) from its headquarters outside Austin.
It will also allow Firefly to purchase long-lead materials earlier and expand its team of engineers and technicians.
The Miranda engine is central to Firefly’s next-generation Eclipse rocket, whose first launch is planned for sometime in 2027.
Its existing Alpha rocket uses a different engine, called Reaver.
Firefly Has Previous Engine Licensing Experience
The AST agreement is not Firefly’s first arrangement involving engine supply and manufacturing rights.
In 2021, the company signed a similar agreement with launch startup Astra Space for its Reaver rocket engine. That arrangement included engine deliveries and an intellectual property agreement that allowed Astra to manufacture Reaver engines internally, subject to certain competitive restrictions.
It was not immediately clear whether similar restrictions were included in the new AST agreement.
Firefly described the arrangement as a non-competitive deal, saying AST SpaceMobile would launch its own satellites while Firefly continued serving the broader government and commercial launch market.
U.S. Rocket Industry Ramps Up Production
The agreement comes as the U.S. space industry faces growing demand for launch services and limited availability of rockets.
SpaceX’s dominant Falcon 9 is approaching retirement in the coming years, while its next-generation Starship rocket is contributing to a broader industry shift toward larger, vertically integrated launch systems.
Blue Origin also announced developments on Thursday, unveiling a new rocket engine called Northstar and an expansion of its New Glenn rocket that adds a third stage.
The modification is designed to help New Glenn carry heavier payloads to more precise orbital destinations.
Together, these developments highlight the increasing investment in U.S. rocket manufacturing and launch technology as satellite operators seek more dependable access to space.
For Firefly, the $1.3 billion agreement represents a major commercial opportunity and a boost to its production plans. For AST SpaceMobile, Blacklift could eventually provide an additional route to deploying the 248 satellites planned for its global cellular broadband network.
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