AST SpaceMobile signs a $1.3 billion Firefly engine deal for Blacklift

Firefly will supply 27 Miranda engines and nine vacuum-variant Vira engines for AST's first three Blacklift rockets, then license production technology and provide engineering support. Spaceflight Now reported that the payment structure includes $800 million upfront, $250 million for the 36 engines and $250 million in services over three years.

AST says Blacklift is intended to launch five BlueBird satellites at a time beginning in 2028. Major details, including the launch site and full vehicle configuration, had not yet been disclosed, and neither engine type had flown to orbit at publication.