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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [TECHNOLOGY]

3 clusters · 17 sources · 30 days · First seen · Last updated

Castelion Blackbeard hypersonic missile development

Overview

Defense startup Castelion has moved toward scaling the production and testing of its Blackbeard hypersonic strike missile. In August 2026, the company secured $1.05 billion in Series C financing to expand its manufacturing capabilities at the Project Ranger facility in New Mexico. This funding aims to support the mass production of low-cost hypersonic weapons to address U.S. defense gaps.

By September 2026, the U.S. Navy advanced the program by conducting tests of the Blackbeard missile using F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets. The missile is designed for both air-launch and ground-launch configurations, including compatibility with HIMARS. Through a contract valued at up to $200 million, the Navy seeks to increase magazine depth for carrier strike groups, with a production goal of 50 missiles by August 2028 and early operational capability targeted for 2027.

In mid-September 2026, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory increased its funding for Castelion by $16.4 million, bringing the total value of that specific agreement to $37.2 million. Founded in 2022 by former SpaceX engineers, the Torrance, California-based company intends to utilize industrial-scale, commercial-style manufacturing for the Blackbeard missile, which is designed to maneuver at speeds exceeding Mach 5. This contract is scheduled to continue through June 30, 2028.

Entities

Castelion · Blackbeard · JPMorganChase · Department of the Navy · United States Navy

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Castelion receives increased funding for Blackbeard hypersonic missile

    The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory increased funding for Castelion's ‘Blackbeard’ hypersonic missile project to $37.2 million, focusing on large-scale industrial production.

  2. 10 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
    US Navy tests Castelion Blackbeard hypersonic missile on F/A-18 Super Hornets

    The US Navy is testing Castelion’s Blackbeard hypersonic missile on F/A-18 Super Hornets, aiming for affordable, mass-produced long-range strike capabilities by 2027.

  3. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 11 sources
    Castelion raises $1 billion to scale hypersonic missile production

    Defense startup Castelion raised $1 billion in Series C funding at a $13 billion valuation to mass-produce its Blackbeard hypersonic missile and expand its weapons portfolio.

Sources

aerotime.aero · aijourn.com · businessam.be · defence-industry.eu · dvidshub.net · finance.technews.tw · interestingengineering.com · news.crunchbase.com · ordu.az · pulse2.com · slashgear.com · space24.pl · spacenews.com · theNEXTweb.com · tvn.com.ar · visithoustontexas.com · vivoverde.com.br

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history