AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.US) has been awarded the status of main contractor for the SHIELD project by the US Missile Defense Agency, causing the stock to surge more than 7% in pre-market trading.

American Satellite Communications Company AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.US) surged over 7% in pre-market trading on Friday, after the company confirmed it has been granted the prime contractor status for the "SHIELD" project by the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The project, officially known as the "Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense System," is part of the broader "Golden Dome" strategy aimed at building a resilient layered defense system across air, missile, space, network, and hybrid warfare domains. The contract award comes from the list of qualified bidding companies publicly released by the US government on January 15, 2026 for this project. Chris DeMay, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Government Business at AST SpaceMobile, said, "Being selected as the prime contractor for the MDA SHIELD project is a significant recognition of our unique in-orbit dual-use technology and growing national defense capabilities." As of pre-market trading, ASTS stock price rose by 7.5% to $108.64. This collaboration marks a key breakthrough for the company in expanding its business in the defense sector, with its integrated communication technology potentially being integrated into the national missile defense system, opening up opportunities for future government order growth.