Defense startup Castelion has secured contracts to integrate its Blackbeard hypersonic weapon with operational platforms of the US Army and US Navy. The agreements allow Castelion to conduct live-fire demonstrations, an essential part of the Pentagon’s initiative aimed at evaluating and fast-tracking lower-cost conventional strike options for deterrence.
Blackbeard is designed as a low-cost, mid-range precision strike munition that can be seamlessly integrated with existing launchers, including the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and the US Army’s forthcoming Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher. According to Castelion CEO Bryon Hargis, the contracts underscore the importance of affordability and speed in modern deterrence strategies. “Castelion leads the market designing for manufacturability and rapid iteration, enabling the Department of War to move faster from concept to capability,” he stated.
In terms of design, Blackbeard has been built for mass production and swift deployment, utilizing in-house systems for propulsion and guidance to reduce costs while maintaining performance standards. However, as noted in the US Army’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget justification, the ground-launch system is not intended to replace the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), known as Dark Eagle, which is expected to achieve speeds of up to Mach 17 (approximately 13,000 miles or 21,000 kilometers per hour) and have a range of about 1,725 miles (2,776 kilometers).
Rather, Blackbeard aims to deliver around 80 percent of the capability of the future Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4, all while being significantly more budget-friendly. The PrSM Increment 4 is designed to extend the missile’s operational range well beyond 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) by using advanced propulsion technologies like ramjets and is expected to integrate a terminal seeker for precise engagements targeting mobile and time-sensitive threats during the terminal phase.
Additionally, Blackbeard is anticipated to be compatible with modified Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions pods, incorporating enhanced target-discrimination features that will further augment its effectiveness on the battlefield.
