New York, January 16, 2026, 10:33 EST — Regular session
- Shares of AST SpaceMobile surged following the company’s announcement of securing a prime position on the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD contract vehicle
- A U.S. contract notice sets SHIELD’s ceiling at $151 billion, noting that base awards come with no funding until task orders are issued
- With the stock continuing its sharp climb, traders are eyeing early task orders and the upcoming company update
AST SpaceMobile shares surged $16.20, or roughly 16%, to $117.45 Friday morning after the company announced it secured a prime contract role in the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD program. “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,” said Chief Commercial Officer Chris Ivory. 1
The move counts because SHIELD opens a clear path into U.S. defense contracts, and investors have swiftly adjusted valuations when a fresh revenue stream comes into view. For AST, still expanding its space-based cellular network, landing government business could shift the market’s entire narrative.
Late Thursday, the Missile Defense Agency announced 340 more awards under the SHIELD multiple-award contract, pushing the ceiling to $151 billion. The deal could stretch through December 2035 if every option is exercised. The notice clarified no funds would be obligated at the base-award stage; instead, money will flow from future orders competed within the contract vehicle. 2
An IDIQ, or indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, acts as a framework agreement: it outlines terms upfront, while the government issues paid “task orders” later for particular projects. Securing a spot can be significant, but it doesn’t guarantee immediate revenue.
AST is developing a space-based mobile broadband network designed to link regular smartphones straight to satellites, no extra gear needed. They call it “direct-to-cell” connectivity, leveraging satellites in low-Earth orbit—just a few hundred miles up. 3
The SHIELD umbrella falls under the Trump administration’s “Golden Dome” missile-defense initiative, which seeks to integrate layered defenses with an extensive satellite network. Last year, when the Pentagon kicked off the contracting process, Reuters reported the plan was to award contracts to all qualifying vendors instead of selecting just a few. This approach drew attention from both established defense giants and newer players in tech and space. 4
The contract setup is a double-edged sword for shareholders. With thousands of vendors in the mix and no initial funding guaranteed, the real question now is whether AST can secure significant task orders—and importantly, how fast those orders turn into actual revenue.
Investors are gearing up for the initial SHIELD task-order awards that specifically reference AST, along with the company’s upcoming quarterly results. While AST hasn’t officially announced an earnings date, MarketBeat’s calendar currently points to March 2 for the next update. 5
