USN Blackbeard hypersonic missile flight-tested on F/A-18 for first time

The U.S. Navy released first imagery of the Blackbeard hypersonic strike missile carried in flight on F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, indicating the program has progressed into real flight testing and integration. Blackbeard (MACE) aims to provide a relatively affordable, mass-producible hypersonic standoff weapon—especially for anti-ship missions—potentially using a booster plus hypersonic glide vehicle concept and seekers less vulnerable to RF jamming.