Startup Developing Hypersonic Weapons Secures Major Army and Navy Contracts

A California defense technology startup has received contracts to integrate its hypersonic weapons system into platforms for both the U.S. Army and Navy, company officials announced.

Blackbeard

Castelion officials said that under the contracts, it will work with both the Army and Navy to implement its first long-range hypersonic weapon, known as“Blackbeard.” The company intends to integrate the strike weapon into both branches?ˉ operational platforms and showcase its capabilities in live-fire testing.

Slashing Costs

Castelion says that vertically integrated propulsion and guidance subsystems allow Blackbeard to meet performance standards at“a fraction” of the price tag of earlier weapons.

Terms of the awards were not disclosed by the company.

Hypersonic Arms Race

Other companies, including leading defense contractors, are also working on hypersonic systems. These systems can travel at more than five times the speed of sound and evade conventional missile defense systems. Reuters noted that the U.S. and China are both vying to develop the most advanced high-speed weapons.

Image credit: Castelion

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