Firefly Supplies Engines for AST SpaceMobile Rockets
A deal worth more than $1.3 billion lets AST SpaceMobile build its own heavy-lift rocket, Blacklift, with Firefly engines.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Space
Firefly Aerospace agreed to supply rocket engines and license their design to AST SpaceMobile in a three-year deal worth more than $1.3 billion. The agreement covers 36 engines for the first three rockets and engineering support.
Why it matters
The deal supports AST SpaceMobile's plan to build its own heavy-lift rocket, Blacklift, which is designed to carry multiple BlueBird satellites per launch. It also gives Firefly a major customer and funding for expansion.
The agreement covers 36 engines, including 27 Miranda and nine Vira engines, for AST SpaceMobile's first three rockets. Blacklift is designed to be reusable and carry up to five BlueBird satellites per launch.
The players
Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a U.S. space company that builds launch vehicles and rocket engines.
AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile is a U.S. company developing a satellite network intended to provide direct cellular connectivity from space.
The details
Firefly will deliver the engines and provide engineering support, while AST SpaceMobile receives a perpetual license to build the engines itself at a new U.S. plant for about $800 million in cash and stock. Firefly plans to use its share of the funds to hire workers and build new test bays in Briggs, Texas.
Timeline
Friday, November 6, 2026: Firefly and AST SpaceMobile announce the engine deal.
Late 2028: AST SpaceMobile expects the first Blacklift rocket flights to begin.
The Tech Race
The deal shows commercial space companies increasingly licensing engine designs rather than building every component in-house. It positions AST SpaceMobile to develop its own heavy-lift capacity instead of relying solely on outside launch providers.
The deal could accelerate the deployment of direct-to-phone satellite service, which would affect how U.S. consumers get cellular coverage in areas without towers. Timelines remain tied to the 2028 projection for Blacklift flights.
The takeaway
Commercial space deals like this one show companies pairing engine supply with licensing to speed up their own launch capacity. Watch for whether the late 2028 Blacklift schedule holds.
What happens next
AST SpaceMobile expects first Blacklift rocket flights to begin in late 2028.
Further reading
Explore more in Space, where this rocket engine deal fits into the broader U.S. commercial launch industry.
