1,200-mph US Navy Super Hornets to pack four Mach 5+ hypersonic Blackbeard missiles

The U.S. Navy is preparing to add a new class of high-speed strike weapons to its carrier-based fighter fleet. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle recently examined Blackbeard, a hypersonic missile developed by defense startup Castelion, during a visit to Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.

The October 28 visit provided a closer look at the weapon’s progress toward integration with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The Navy has already conducted an initial flight evaluation, with further testing planned before the missile enters operational service.

Caudle inspected the weapon at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23), which handles weapons testing at the installation. The visit also included discussions about the Navy’s broader approach to developing autonomous aircraft and extending the reach of carrier-based operations.

Hypersonic weapon nears testing

Blackbeard falls into the hypersonic category, which covers weapons capable of exceeding Mach 5. Its flight profile also allows it to change direction during atmospheric flight. This combination could complicate interception attempts by adversary air defense networks.

Integrating the weapon onto the Super Hornet has already produced several testing milestones. A Navy presentation in August showed two Blackbeard test articles mounted beneath the fighter’s wings.

Engineers took the next step on September 18. A Super Hornet departed Patuxent River carrying two missiles during a developmental flight. The aircraft completed the sortie without releasing either weapon, allowing the Navy to evaluate how the fighter handles their additional weight and external configuration.

Coming soon to a theater near you…BLACKBEARD @CENTCOM @PAEAviation pic.twitter.com/KgBtIqdf8I

— NAVAIR (@NAVAIRNews) September 25, 2026

Footage released by the Navy on September 25 documented the flight. The service ultimately wants each Super Hornet to accommodate four Blackbeard missiles, potentially giving individual aircraft a substantial strike payload.

Navy increases missile orders

Castelion has positioned Blackbeard as a more affordable alternative to existing American hypersonic weapons. The California-based startup was founded by former SpaceX engineers and aims to simplify production to increase manufacturing capacity.

The Navy awarded the company a $105 million agreement in April to advance integration with the Super Hornet. The program also includes preparations for live-fire evaluations in the Indo-Pacific.

Procurement activity has gathered pace since then. In June, the Navy purchased 50 pre-production missiles for $23.4 million. A September agreement added a production order worth up to $200 million. USNI News reported that the deal covers 444 missiles.

@USNavyCNO, meet Blackbeard. pic.twitter.com/xgu5pBVEJJ

— Castelion (@Castelion) November 2, 2026

The Pentagon has also outlined much larger ambitions for the weapon. A framework agreement calls for at least 500 missiles annually once testing concludes. The Department of War has also indicated plans to seek funding for more than 12,000 units over five years.

Multiple launch platforms planned

The Super Hornet represents just one potential application for Blackbeard. Castelion is pursuing compatibility with several other military platforms.

The U.S. Army’s HIMARS rocket artillery system is among the planned launch platforms. The company has also begun adapting the weapon for the Air Force’s F-16 under a research agreement.

Naval operations could eventually involve unmanned vessels, too. Castelion intends to demonstrate a launch from Saronic’s Marauder unmanned surface vessel in 2027.

The Navy is working toward early operational capability, which would allow a limited missile inventory to reach frontline units. Additional developmental flights at Patuxent River will help prepare the weapon for subsequent live-fire evaluations.

An important milestone remains outstanding. The Navy has yet to announce a date for Blackbeard’s first live launch from a Super Hornet. That test will provide a clearer indication of the weapon’s readiness for deployment.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/military/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-super-hornet-integration