[REVISION HISTORY]

Castelion Blackbeard hypersonic missile development

5 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-28 07:32 UTC → 2026-10-03 05:54 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. This contract is scheduled to continue through June 30, 2028. On September 25 and 28, 2026, the Navy released flight test footage of the Blackbeard integrated with an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The missile, which is intended to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, may be capable of striking targets at ranges of approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers). As part of the Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector (MACE) program, Castelion secured a $43.65 million deal for the first production lot of 444 missiles. The Navy has expressed interest in procuring up to 12,000 Blackbeard missiles over a five-year period to bolster carrier-based strike capabilities. In early October 2026, the Navy released new operational images from a flight test at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland.

Versions

Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.