US Navy awards Castelion $200M for Blackbeard hypersonic missile production

The U.S. Navy has awarded defense startup Castelion a $200 million contract to produce its Blackbeard hypersonic missile, signaling a shift toward nontraditional suppliers in hypersonic weapons development. The award underscores the Pentagon's push to accelerate hypersonic capabilities amid intensifying competition with China and Russia. Details on production timelines and missile specifications remain undisclosed.