Key facts
- The US Navy selected Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic missile for its MACE program.
- The Blackbeard missile flies at over five times the speed of sound.
- A $49,998,005 contract will fund Blackbeard development and testing through November 2027.
- The missile is designed to complement the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).
- The Navy has a unit cost ceiling of $300,000 per missile and a production target of 500 units annually.
- Castelion was founded by former SpaceX personnel.
The US Navy is moving forward with its Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector (MACE) program, selecting Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic missile as the first weapon candidate. The missile is designed to fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5, offering a significant challenge to advanced air defense systems protecting Chinese warships and coastal military installations.
The selection was confirmed via a $49,998,005 firm-fixed-price Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III contract awarded to Castelion on February 25, 2026. This contract will fund full-scale prototype development, flight testing, and early operational fielding of the Blackbeard missile through November 2027, with primary work conducted at Castelion's headquarters in Torrance, California.
The MACE program, initiated by a Naval Air Systems Command Request for Information in February 2024, aims to develop a modular, air-launched stand-off weapon that enhances the survivability of manned aircraft. The Blackbeard missile is intended to complement existing systems like the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), offering a more affordable, high-volume option.
Key requirements for the Blackbeard missile include a range exceeding 370 kilometers, the ability to carry a 75-pound warhead, and terminal guidance for engaging moving targets. It must also adhere to digital engineering practices and Weapons Open System Architecture (WOSA) standards. The Navy has set a unit cost ceiling of $300,000 per missile and aims for an annual production of at least 500 units.
Castelion, founded in 2022 by former SpaceX personnel Bryon Hargis, Sean Pitt, and Andrew Kreitz, developed the Blackbeard to operate at speeds over Mach 5 while maintaining maneuverability. The missile is part of the Department of Defense's strategy to field a "high-low mix" of hypersonic capabilities, providing a lower-cost alternative to more expensive systems. The program has already completed over 20 flight tests, and a ground-launched variant is also under development for the US Army.