U.S. Navy made very significant bet on new Blackbeard hypersonic missile from Castelion and plans significant orders. Fiscal year 2027 budget documentation enshrined phased procurement financing for this missile through 2031, totaling 3,510 units.
Although these plans still await approval, as does entire U.S. defense budget for 2027 in record $1.5 trillion for defense (almost like entire rest of world combined), American Navy's own intention to massively order this missile appears final.
Read more: French Missile Maker ArianeGroup Confirms Considering Ballistic Missile Production in Germany, Believes in Cooperation More Than Ever
Naval News analysis of Navy budget plans shows 2027 plans for procuring first small batch of 353 Blackbeards for $156 million. This already gives initial cost of $442,000 per missile at initial stage. Already in 2028, 691 missiles are planned for order, in 2029 — 976, in 2030 — 1,115, and in 2031 — 1,375 units.
Defense Express notes that U.S. Navy planned to integrate Blackbeard into fighters, with such version development costing, in U.S. case, only $50 million. This means specifically this missile will be main hypersonic weapons for carrier-based fighters, at minimum F/A-18E/F, and also most likely F-35C.
At the same time, this missile should also launch from HIMARS launchers as well as future unmanned Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML). U.S. Army became interested in Blackbeard in such version.
Should note Castelion officially does not publish Blackbeard parameters, neither in ground version which evidently has two-stage design, nor in aviation variant which may be single-stage. Typically comparisons are used to describe its capabilities, for example, that Blackbeard will provide 80% of Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 capabilities, which should have 1,000km range, or that it has range category like AGM-158C LRASM anti-ship cruise missile (stated as over 370 km, but estimated up to 900 km).
Blackbeard warhead weight also was not announced officially, but publication notes it is only 95 pounds, meaning 43 kg. This is naturally consequence of American trend of reducing warheads. For understanding, such warhead weight is half that of GMLRS for HIMARS. Considering China is actively concreting its positions, this forces reflection.
Should also recall that Blackbeard development itself by startup Castelion, which appeared only in 2022, proceeds at genuinely rapid pace. Stage from work start to test flights took only 18 months.
Read more: russia Claims 20 New Su-35S Fighters in 2025–2026, but Real Production Rates Raise Questions
