Navy Orders Affordable Hypersonic Missiles from Startup Castelion
The US Navy has ordered 50 hypersonic missiles from Castelion, a California-based defense startup, for $23.4 million. The Blackbeard missiles, priced under $300,000 each, are a fraction of typical hypersonic costs. This marks a shift in weapons pricing and reflects the Navy's commitment to advancing affordable strike capability.
Key points
- The US Navy ordered 50 Blackbeard hypersonic missiles from Castelion for $23.4 million, with each missile costing under $300,000.
- This is the third Navy funding round for Castelion since February 2026, totaling over $178 million.
- Castelion, founded by former SpaceX engineers, has completed over two dozen flight tests within three years.
- The Navy's order covers 50 shipping and storage containers, primarily produced at Castelion's New Mexico factory campus.
- The Blackbeard missile travels in excess of Mach 5 and is integrated onto the F/A-18 carrier deck.
The US Navy has made a significant move in the defense industry by ordering 50 hypersonic missiles from Castelion, a California-based startup. The Blackbeard missiles, priced under $300,000 each, are a fraction of typical hypersonic costs. This marks a shift in weapons pricing and reflects the Navy's commitment to advancing affordable strike capability.
Castelion, founded by former SpaceX engineers, has been making waves in the defense industry with its affordable and manufacturable long-range strike capability. The company has received three separate Navy funding rounds since February 2026, totaling over $178 million. The latest order is for $23.4 million, with each missile costing under $300,000.
The Blackbeard missile travels in excess of Mach 5 and is integrated onto the F/A-18 carrier deck. The Navy's order covers 50 shipping and storage containers, primarily produced at Castelion's New Mexico factory campus. This partnership between the Navy and Castelion has the potential to revolutionize the defense industry and make hypersonic missiles more accessible to military forces around the world.
Sources
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