AST SpaceMobile Secures Prime Contract Role in U.S. Missile Defense Agency SHIELD Program
AST SpaceMobile Awarded SHIELD IDIQ Contract by U.S. Missile Defense Agency
AST SpaceMobile, the company building the world’s first and only space-based cellular broadband network that connects directly to everyday smartphones, announced that it has been awarded a contract under the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program. The award is structured as an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract and supports both commercial and government applications.
The SHIELD contract framework enables the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter, emphasizing speed, flexibility, and operational agility across multiple mission areas.
SHIELD Program Aligned with Golden Dome Defense Strategy
The SHIELD program forms a critical component of the U.S. Government’s broader Golden Dome strategy, which is focused on developing resilient, layered defenses against air, missile, space, cyber, and hybrid threats across all operational domains.
AST SpaceMobile’s selection positions the company to compete for future task orders spanning research, development, engineering, prototyping, and operational support for key Missile Defense Agency systems. These efforts directly support U.S. national security objectives and next-generation defense capabilities.
Validation of Dual-Use LEO Satellite Technology
“Being selected as a prime contract awardee for the MDA’s SHIELD program is a major validation of our unique, on-orbit, dual-use technology and our expanding role within the defense sector,” said Chris Ivory, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Government Business at AST SpaceMobile.
“Our low-Earth orbit satellite architecture — which features the largest commercial phased arrays ever deployed in LEO — is inherently scalable and resilient,” Ivory added. “This SHIELD IDIQ contract establishes AST SpaceMobile as an eligible provider to bid directly on future task orders, enabling us to rapidly align our advanced space technology with the critical needs of the Department of Defense and other U.S. Government agencies.”
Expanding Role of Commercial Space in National Defense
AST SpaceMobile’s selection as a prime contractor highlights the growing importance of resilient, dual-use LEO constellations in integrated national defense missions. These include command and control, battle management, advanced sensing, and communications resilience.
The award reflects increased government emphasis on leveraging American innovation and commercial space technologies, consistent with U.S. Administration policies aimed at streamlining the use of the commercial space sector. These policies seek to strengthen national security, promote economic growth, and maintain U.S. leadership in space and defense technologies.
Vertically Integrated U.S.-Based Manufacturing Footprint
AST SpaceMobile is approximately 95% vertically integrated, with all major manufacturing processes conducted under U.S. control and headquartered in Texas. The company operates nearly 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and operational facilities and employs a workforce of nearly 1,800 people.
The company’s technology platform is supported by an extensive intellectual property portfolio, with more than 3,800 issued patents and patent-pending claims, reinforcing its leadership in space-based cellular broadband innovation.
Contract Award Announcement and Eligibility
The SHIELD contract award was made as part of a broader list of companies deemed eligible to compete under the program. The selection was publicly announced by the U.S. Government on January 15, 2026.
About AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space designed to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices. Supported by a robust intellectual property and patent portfolio, the network is intended to serve both commercial and government customers.
The company’s mission is to eliminate connectivity gaps for the world’s more than five billion mobile subscribers and deliver broadband access to billions of people who remain unconnected today. AST SpaceMobile’s engineers and space scientists are working to transform global communications through scalable, resilient, and secure space-based infrastructure.
For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook, or view the company’s mission overview video online.
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