AST SpaceMobile stock jumps on SHIELD contract slot, puts “Golden Dome” bids in focus
New York, January 16, 2026, 10:33 EST — Regular session 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. (Business Wire) 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