ARLINGTON— The Navy took a major step forward in delivering game-changing hypersonic strike power to carrier pilots when it awarded California startup Castelion a contract nearing $105 million to fully integrate the Blackbeard hypersonic weapon onto the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The deal puts U.S. forces on a fast track to field its first operational air-launched hypersonic strike weapon from carrier decks by 2027.
Unlike land-based ballistic missiles, Blackbeard is made for Navy aircraft carriers and can be launched from an F/A-18 fighter jet operating hundreds of miles from shore, giving the U.S. enhanced capabilities to strike an adversary’s missile batteries and warships that would be much harder for ground-launched systems to hit. Blackbeard travels at speeds exceeding Mach 5, enabling it to cover hundreds of miles in minutes, maneuver inside the atmosphere, and strike high-value or time-sensitive targets while defeating enemy air defenses that can stop conventional missiles.
No other navy currently fields a comparable operational air-launched hypersonic capability from carrier-based fighters.
This award builds directly on a $49.9 million Navy contract Castelion received in February 2026. The combined investment accelerates Blackbeard from advanced prototype to early operational capability in the carrier air wing in roughly 18 months. Blackbeard stands out as the first U.S. hypersonic system engineered from the ground up for industrial-rate production, commercial unit costs, and rapid iteration. Unlike traditional defense programs that take decades and billions of dollars while delivering limited quantities, Castelion’s approach draws inspiration from SpaceX. Manufacturing facilities in New Mexico and Texas position the company to deliver these weapons at the volumes the Navy needs to restore deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and abroad.
READ MORE: 'Urgency Is Extraordinary': Castelion's SpaceX-Style Hypersonic Innovation Fuels Push for Deterrence
Castelion’s emergence is a prime example of the acquisition speed that Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth is demanding. Whenever given the opportunity, Hegseth has repeatedly stated that the Pentagon must “increase acquisition risk in order to decrease operational risk” to the warfighter. Castelion’s repeated contract wins show how fresh entrants can deliver results when the system rewards speed over paperwork. Even as former Biden-era Pentagon officials have praised Hegseth for accelerating capability reform efforts, internal resistance has persisted. Navy Secretary John Phelan’s abrupt ouster, for example, was driven largely by the Trump administration’s view that he was not moving fast enough on aggressive upgrades and Navy modernization priorities. Instances of internal resistance haven't stopped the shift from yielding tangible results and winning praise from the very companies now delivering faster capability to the fleet.
READ MORE: Secretary of the Navy John Phelan Exits Stage Left, Under Secretary Hung Cao Enters Stage Right
Castelion CEO and co-founder Bryon Hargis welcomed the news saying the “U.S. Navy commitment to fielding affordable, innovative hypersonic capability reflects the kind of leadership this moment demands and clear determination to move fast for the warfighter.” He said Castelion, started by several principal thinkers at SpaceX, was “grateful for the continued trust in Blackbeard and in our team.”
As China and Russia rapidly field and employ operational hypersonic weapons, the United States has trailed in delivering comparable systems at scale. Blackbeard changes the game. For carrier strike groups operating in contested waters, it adds a powerful new option to hit deeply buried targets quickly. By betting on speed, affordability, and rapid production instead of traditional slow-moving programs, Castelion is helping the Pentagon close the hypersonic gap at a pace never seen before.
Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, the warrior ethos is coming back to America's military.
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