US Navy Begins Testing Castelion’s Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile On F/A-18 Super Hornet

The U.S. Navy has begun flight tests of Castelion’s Blackbeard hypersonic weapon on F/A-18E/F Super Hornets after obligating $89,997,162 to the program in April 2026. The Blackbeard project aims to deliver a low-cost, mass-producible hypersonic strike missile that can be launched from both aircraft and ground launchers.

Program Background

Blackbeard is being developed by Castelion, a startup that won its first contract in May 2023, roughly a year after the company was founded. The system is being designed as both an aircraft-launched and ground-launched (GL) hypersonic strike weapon that can integrate with existing launch platforms — notably the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

Performance Goals And Schedule

Official targets call for sustained speeds above Mach 5 (about 3,835 mph) and an operational reach on the order of 500 miles, although the precise, publicly confirmed range and full performance envelope remain undisclosed. Following a firm-fixed contract award, Castelion aims to produce an initial run of 50 missiles by August 2028.

Castelion/X

Development Progress

In late 2025 Castelion conducted several development flights in which ground-launched prototypes were successfully fired. The company is targeting early operational capability (EOC) on the F/A-18 Super Hornet in 2027 as a first step toward wider naval integration.

Cost And Strategic Implications

Cost is a core element of Castelion's pitch: each Blackbeard missile is projected to cost under $500,000. In procurement terms that is substantially less than comparable long-range munitions — for example, ATACMS rockets are roughly $1.0–$1.5 million each, while the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) has been quoted in the neighborhood of $3.5–$5.35 million per round. If Blackbeard meets its performance and cost goals, it could materially shift munition economics and operational options across the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army (given HIMARS compatibility).

While Blackbeard represents a potentially significant step toward an affordable U.S. hypersonic capability, several programs remain in development and the missile's complete operational performance has yet to be demonstrated.

Key takeaways: Navy tests are underway on F/A-18s, ground-launched prototypes have already flown, the program has a clear production target and budget, and the missile's low projected unit cost is a major part of its appeal. Full capabilities and competition from other hypersonic efforts will determine its ultimate role.