Defense startup Castelion unveiled images of Blackbeard, its first hypersonic missile, on 20/8. This follows the company securing one billion USD in funding, with plans to bring the weapon into production.

The photo shows a projectile with a booster stage similar to a ballistic missile, topped by an unpowered hypersonic glide vehicle (HVG). In this design, the HVG will be carried to the necessary altitude by the booster before separating to glide towards its target.

The Blackbeard hypersonic missile in an image released on 20/8. Photo: Castelion

The Blackbeard hypersonic missile in an image released on 20/8. Photo: Castelion

Castelion has not yet provided detailed specifications for Blackbeard, but previously indicated the projectile could strike targets at a distance of 800 km.

Both stages feature cruciform control fins, while the HVG has ridges along its body and a protruding nose resembling a bird's beak. Blue stripes on the missile's body indicate it is a training missile or a test model, not a combat version.

Castelion promotes Blackbeard as a low-cost hypersonic missile, aiming to finalize its design by 2027. The projectile's design may change in the future. While the developer has not yet announced the projected factory price, it asserts that Blackbeard is designed to significantly reduce costs and simplify the large-scale production process compared to traditional missiles.

A launch platform and missile participating in tests related to the Blackbeard hypersonic missile program. Photo: Castelion

A launch platform and missile participating in tests related to the Blackbeard hypersonic missile program. Photo: Castelion

In May, the Pentagon announced plans to acquire at least 10,000 Blackbeard projectiles, along with a similar number of low-cost cruise missiles, within the next three years. The US Army also expressed interest in launching Blackbeard from ground-based platforms, including HIMARS rocket artillery and newly introduced unmanned platforms.

"The ground-launched Blackbeard variant is tasked with attacking and destroying mobile targets or fortified positions using the precise firepower of a hypersonic missile, with each projectile costing significantly less than existing weapons in inventory," the US Army stated in its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.

Earlier this year, Castelion announced it had received a contract to equip F/A-18E/F carrier-based fighter jets with Blackbeard. This process will involve comprehensive safety testing, system certification, flight testing, and other work related to integrating Blackbeard into carrier-based combat operations.

Flight trajectories of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles. Graphic: GAO

Flight trajectories of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles. Graphic: GAO

Castelion is a defense technology startup founded in 2022 by a group of former SpaceX executives. Its goal is to develop low-cost, mass-producible hypersonic weapon systems to accelerate equipment deployment and narrow the technology gap with US adversaries.

Hypersonic weapons travel at a minimum of 5 times the speed of sound (Mach 5), equivalent to over 6,200 km/h. Weapons flying faster than the speed of sound but not reaching Mach 5 are typically referred to as supersonic missiles.

High speed, maneuverability, and low atmospheric flight paths make hypersonic weapons very difficult to track and intercept compared to traditional ballistic missiles, posing a significant challenge to all modern air defense networks. Adversaries also have less reaction time against hypersonic weapons, insufficient to deploy intercept forces or evacuate.

Nguyen Tien (According to War Zone, AP, Reuters)