US Navy tests Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic missile on Super Hornet

The US Navy completed a flight test of Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic strike missile aboard an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. The jet carried two test articles but none were released or live-fired. The missile flies faster than Mach 5 (over 3,800 mph) and is designed for low-cost, large-scale production.

• Flight test took place at Patuxent River with no missile release
• Blackbeard exceeds Mach 5, reaching over 3,800 mph
• Designed for carrier-based fighters in A2/AD environments
• Focus on low-cost design for large-scale production