Contract Awards
05/13/2026
Reading time: 2 min
Castelion and Department of War Sign Framework Agreement to Build Low-Cost Hypersonic Missiles for the Arsenal of Freedom
Multi-year procurement of 500 weapons annually in shift from development to production, targeting operational fielding at scale. The framework represents the first production agreement of its kind for a low-cost hypersonic weapon and directly advances the Department’s mandate to build credible deterrence at scale through the Arsenal of Freedom.
TORRANCE, Calif. — MAY 13, 2026 — Castelion today announced a production framework agreement with the Department of War to manufacture and field Blackbeard, its first low-cost hypersonic strike missile, at a guaranteed minimum of 500 missiles per year once testing and validation is complete, with a pathway to purchase thousands of additional missiles.
The framework represents the first production agreement of its kind for a low-cost hypersonic weapon and directly advances the Department’s mandate to build credible deterrence at scale through the Arsenal of Freedom.
“We’re grateful to the Department of War for this commitment to bring Blackbeard’s hypersonic strike capability to our warfighters,” said Bryon Hargis, CEO and Co-Founder of Castelion. “It’s a clear signal that hypersonic weapons are crucial to the future, and Castelion is dedicated to accelerating production.”
Read more about the Agreement – link to War.gov post.
About Castelion
Castelion builds American hypersonic deterrence through rapid, affordable, and scalable production of advanced strike weapons. Blackbeard is the first U.S. hypersonic system engineered from inception for industrial-rate output, commercial unit cost, and continuous flight test iteration. The company operates facilities in California, New Mexico, Texas and Washington D.C.
Modern Defense Production.
###
Media Inquiries:
[email protected]
Related News
Castelion Moves Blackbeard into Production with U.S. Navy Order Valued Up to $200 Million
Castelion today announced a production delivery order from the U.S. Navy, with a total value of up to $200 million, to manufacture, assemble, test, and deliver an initial lot of Blackbeard Hypersonic Weapons to the fleet. Awarded by Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation (PAE(A)) through its Future Capability Development and Integration Aviation Rapid Capabilities Cell, these rounds will follow the 50 Early Operational Capability (EOC) weapons ordered in June of this year.
U.S. Navy Awards Castelion $90M to Advance Blackbeard to Early Operational Capability
Castelion has been awarded an $89,997,162 firm-fixed-price order from the U.S. Navy to advance Blackbeard hypersonic strike weapon to Early Operational Capability (EOC). The award is building on Castelion’s prior work regarding “Low Cost Highly Manufacturable Long Range Strike Weapon Production.”
U.S. Navy Awards Castelion First Delivery Order for Blackbeard Hypersonic Weapon
Castelion has been awarded a $23.4M firm-fixed-price order from the U.S. Navy for the production and delivery of 50 Blackbeard early operational capability pre-production prototypes and 50 associated storage and shipping containers. Award marks first delivery of low-cost hypersonic strike weapons to the Navy