US Navy to field low-cost Blackbeard hypersonic missile to counter Chinese air defenses

The US Navy plans to deploy Castelion's Blackbeard, a low-cost hypersonic missile capable of Mach 5+, on carrier-based fighters to overwhelm Chinese warship and coastal defenses. The emphasis on affordability and mass production marks a shift from expensive hypersonic programs, potentially altering the cost-exchange ratio in Pacific deterrence. Details on range, payload, and integration timeline remain unconfirmed.