Firefly, AST SpaceMobile sign $1.3 billion engine supply deal for Blacklift rocket

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Firefly, AST sign $1.3B engine deal

Highlights

Firefly signed a $1.3 billion deal to supply AST SpaceMobile with 27 Miranda core engines and nine Vira in-space engines for three Blacklift rockets.
AST targets Blacklift's debut launch in late 2028, aiming for a rapid timeline to deploy its global cellular broadband satellite constellation.
Blacklift's reusability and five-satellite payload capacity could accelerate AST’s network deployment and reduce reliance on SpaceX Falcon 9 for launches.

Engine supply agreement and Blacklift timeline

As reported by Reuters, Firefly will build and supply 27 Miranda core engines and nine Vira in-space engines for the first three Blacklift rockets under the agreement announced on Friday. The deal also gives AST a license to eventually manufacture the engines itself.

AST is developing Blacklift as it races to deploy a satellite constellation for global cellular broadband service. The company is targeting a debut launch in late 2028, a demanding schedule for a new heavy-lift vehicle.

Launch strategy and sector implications

Blacklift is designed for reusability and is expected to carry as many as five of AST's BlueBird satellites on each launch. That capacity could help the company speed deployment of its network while gaining more direct control over launch planning.

The agreement highlights a broader industry push by satellite companies to secure dependable access to space. For AST, building a proprietary launch option would lessen dependence on rockets such as SpaceX's Falcon 9 and could reshape how it manages costs, timing and fleet expansion.

SpaceX’s reimbursement pledge for Grok-driven transaction errors drew attention to the growing liability and trust issues surrounding AI agents that can make purchases and handle sensitive payment data. Our earlier coverage noted that, unlike many rivals’ terms that shift responsibility to users, this stance raises open questions about what losses would be covered and how such guarantees might work in practice as agent-driven mistakes become more common.

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