US defense company Castelion has received a production delivery order from the US Navy to manufacture, assemble, test, and deliver an initial lot of Blackbeard hypersonic weapons to the fleet.
The order, valued at up to $200 million, was awarded by Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation (PAE(A)) through its Future Capability Development and Integration Aviation Rapid Capabilities Cell.
The company said the order follows the US Navy's purchase of 50 Blackbeard Early Operational Capability (EOC) weapons in June 2026.
Blackbeard is an air-launched hypersonic weapon designed for use against maritime and land targets. Castelion said the system is intended to provide naval aviation with a long-range strike capability and increase the number of weapons available to the fleet.
The latest order follows a series of US Army and US Navy contracts supporting the integration of Blackbeard with aircraft and other platforms.
Castelion said it has developed the weapon with private investment and in cooperation with the US Navy, US Army, and US Air Force. The company is using a vertically integrated manufacturing approach for production.
Work under the order will be carried out at Castelion's Project Ranger manufacturing campus in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and at the company's facility in Torrance, California.
"The Navy's decision to move into production reflects its confidence in the Blackbeard program, and the progress we've made together," said Bryon Hargis, Co-founder and CEO of Castelion.
"That's how you get capability to the fleet fast, clear red tape, and partner with industry. We are grateful to PAE(A) for the trust and the urgency. Blackbeard was engineered from day one for the production line, and we look forward to delivering this capability to the fleet."