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U.S. Navy signs a $23.4 million contract to produce 50 units of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile, a weapon that exceeds 6,100 km/h and targets long-range attacks at a lower cost.

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 18/06/2026 at 11:26

Science and Technology

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The US Navy contracted 50 pre-production units of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile, in a $23.4 million deal with Castelion, marking the program’s entry into limited production after testing and development

The contract is the first production received by the defense technology startup and indicates that the Navy intends to accelerate the advancement of Blackbeard towards operational use. The weapon was designed for long-range conventional attacks.

The system is presented as a low-cost hypersonic missile, easy to produce and capable of exceeding Mach 5, a speed greater than 6,100 km/h. At this range, the armament covers large distances quickly and becomes more difficult to intercept.

Most of the work will be carried out at the Project Ranger complex in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Some activities will take place in Torrance, California. Castelion expects to complete the work in 2027.

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Contracts expand the Blackbeard program

The new agreement follows other government contracts received by the company in 2026. In February, Castelion obtained nearly $50 million to accelerate development and produce prototypes of the Blackbeard system.

In April, another contract, worth $107 million, was signed to integrate the missile into the Navy’s F/A-18 fighters. The measure expands the possibilities of employing the armament on different military platforms.

The company is also working with Saronic to install the Blackbeard on the unmanned surface vessel Marauder. The demonstration is scheduled for 2027 and may mark a hypersonic launch from this type of platform.

Project Ranger concentrates manufacturing

To sustain manufacturing, Castelion invested more than $250 million in Project Ranger. The complex occupies about 405 hectares and brings together the company’s efforts to produce hypersonic weapons in greater quantity.

The delivery of the 50 pre-production missiles should help validate this industrial strategy. The contract also reinforces the Navy’s pursuit of manufacturable, affordable long-range weapons aimed at conventional deterrence.

What do you think of this advancement of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile and the US Navy’s attempt to accelerate the production of long-range weapons? Leave your opinion in the comments and tell us if this type of technology changes the military balance.

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U.S. Navy signs a $23.4 million contract to produce 50 units of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile, a weapon that exceeds 6,100 km/h and targets long-range attacks at a lower cost.

The US Navy contracted 50 pre-production units of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile, in a $23.4 million deal with Castelion, marking the program’s entry into limited production after testing and development

Contracts expand the Blackbeard program

Project Ranger concentrates manufacturing

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U.S. Navy signs a $23.4 million contract to produce 50 units of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile, a weapon that exceeds 6,100 km/h and targets long-range attacks at a lower cost.

The US Navy contracted 50 pre-production units of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile, in a $23.4 million deal with Castelion, marking the program’s entry into limited production after testing and development

Contracts expand the Blackbeard program

Project Ranger concentrates manufacturing

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