US Navy funds Castelion Blackbeard low-cost air-launched hypersonic missile

The US Navy awarded Castelion $200M to produce the Blackbeard air-launched hypersonic strike missile, emphasizing low-cost, scalable “affordable mass” and rapid acquisition. If fielded as described (carrier-aircraft compatible, ~200 nm standoff range), it represents a notable new hypersonic magazine-depth option for carrier strike groups after the HALO program was canceled.