# US Navy Advances Hypersonic Missile Testing on F/A-18 Super Hornet Castelion's Blackbeard missile could become the Pentagon's first operational hypersonic weapon by 2027. - **Source:** [SlashGear](https://www.slashgear.com) - **Published:** 2026-09-13 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/12eca2b6-81fd-4b5a-b8af-bb535931e7db ## Hypersonic Arms Race Context The US trails China and Russia in hypersonic missile deployment, with both nations already fielding multiple systems. Blackbeard represents America's push to close this gap. Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons fly at Mach 5+ (3,835+ mph) with maneuverable trajectories, making them harder to intercept. The Navy's $90 million investment reflects the strategic priority of this technology. ## Blackbeard's Unique Design Castelion's dual-capable missile works with existing platforms like F/A-18 jets and HIMARS launchers. This interoperability reduces deployment costs compared to specialized systems. The startup's 2023 contract came just a year after founding, showing rapid Pentagon confidence. The design emphasizes mass production feasibility while maintaining 500+ mile range capabilities. ## 2026 Testing Milestone April 2026 marks the start of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet integration tests, the Navy's primary multirole fighter. Successful 2025 prototype flights demonstrated GL system viability. The program aims for early operational capability by 2027. Super Hornet testing provides crucial data before potential Marine Corps and Army adoption. ## Cost Advantage At under $500,000 per unit, Blackbeard costs 1/7th of comparable munitions like the $3.5M PrSM. This price disrupts traditional defense procurement economics. The missile's affordability stems from Castelion's startup agility and commercial manufacturing approaches. Such savings could enable larger arsenals without budget overruns. ## Multi-Service Potential While Navy-led, the program attracts Army and Marine Corps interest due to HIMARS compatibility. Joint service adoption would create economies of scale. The missile's modular design allows mission-specific configurations. This cross-branch appeal increases its likelihood of becoming a standard munition across all US armed forces. ## Technical Specifications Blackbeard must sustain Mach 5+ speeds while carrying precision guidance systems. Exact payload capacity remains classified. The 500-mile range covers most tactical scenarios in potential conflict zones. Testing will verify performance in varied atmospheric conditions and electronic warfare environments. ## Production Timeline Castelion targets delivery of 50 missiles by August 2028 following the firm-fixed contract. This aggressive schedule reflects operational urgency. Manufacturing will leverage existing defense industrial base partners. Quality control measures must balance rapid output with reliability requirements for hypersonic systems. ## Strategic Implications Successful deployment would mark America's first operational hypersonic weapon, altering Indo-Pacific power dynamics. The program demonstrates how startups can disrupt traditional defense contracting. Blackbeard's cost-performance ratio may force adversaries to rethink their own procurement strategies, potentially triggering an arms quality race. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.slashgear.com/2252712/united-states-navy-testing-new-hypersonic-missile-blackbeard-fa-18-super-hornet/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._