AST SpaceMobile shares rise 6.57% after-hours on securing prime contract for U.S. missile defense SHIELD program.

AST SpaceMobile surged 6.57% in after-hours trading following the announcement that it was awarded a prime contract position on the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD program. The SHIELD indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract enables AST SpaceMobile to bid directly on future task orders under the agency’s multi-award framework, validating the company’s dual-use satellite technology for both communications and defense applications. The selection aligns with the U.S. government’s Golden Dome strategy to enhance national security through resilient Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) systems, positioning AST SpaceMobile to compete for research, development, and operational contracts. The contract underscores growing demand for commercial space technology in defense, with the company emphasizing its scalable phased-array satellite architecture and vertical integration as key differentiators. This development reinforces investor confidence in AST SpaceMobile’s long-term prospects in the defense and space sectors.