U.S. defence start-up Castelion has secured contracts to integrate its Blackbeard hypersonic weapon with Army and Navy systems, marking a step toward global deployment of next-generation strike missiles.
Castelion said on Friday it will work with the U.S. Army to mount the Blackbeard hypersonic strike system onto platforms such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which has seen extensive use in Ukraine.
The company also confirmed an agreement with the U.S. Navy, though terms of both contracts were not disclosed.
The move comes amid heightened competition with China and Russia to develop manoeuvrable hypersonic missiles capable of evading current air defences.
Hypersonic weapons travel at more than five times the speed of sound in the upper atmosphere and can alter direction mid-flight.
Their development has become a strategic priority for the U.S. military, which is seeking both capability and affordability.
Blackbeard is Castelion’s first hypersonic weapon system and is designed for mass production, with a target cost in the “hundreds of thousands of dollars” per unit.
The company said it aims to produce thousands annually at full-scale capacity — a marked shift from the traditionally high-cost, low-volume models of previous programmes.
President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget earmarks $25 million for hypersonic integration efforts, though the plan has yet to be enacted by Congress.
U.S. firms including Stratolaunch, Raytheon (a unit of RTX), and Lockheed Martin are also racing to bring hypersonic capabilities into service.
The Pentagon views the diversification and expansion of these technologies as vital to maintaining strategic deterrence.
One month after Ebola cases were confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, health officials and aid organisations say the true extent of ...
Firefighters and workers were clearing debris on Monday after what Ukraine described as a deliberate Russian strike severely damaged a nearly 1,000-ye...
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed aga...
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of confli...
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central...
One month after Ebola cases were confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, health officials and aid organisations say the true extent of the outbreak remains unclear because of major gaps in testing, reporting and disease surveillance.
Firefighters and workers were clearing debris on Monday after what Ukraine described as a deliberate Russian strike severely damaged a nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral in Kyiv, one of the country's most important religious and cultural landmarks.
Uzbekistan and five partner countries have signed a protocol to further develop the CASCA+ railway corridor, a growing transport route linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Türkiye that provides an alternative connection between Asian and European markets.
An armed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed on a Black Sea beach in northern Türkiye on Sunday, prompting a security operation and the controlled detonation of its munitions.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
One month after Ebola cases were confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, health officials and aid organisations say the true extent of the outbreak remains unclear because of major gaps in testing, reporting and disease surveillance.
Firefighters and workers were clearing debris on Monday after what Ukraine described as a deliberate Russian strike severely damaged a nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral in Kyiv, one of the country's most important religious and cultural landmarks.
Pakistan's political leadership on Monday welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the U.S. and Iran aimed at ending more than three months of conflict, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing it as a major diplomatic success and a victory for peace.
Spain has received around 900,000 applications from undocumented migrants seeking legal status under a government regularisation programme. The influx has far exceeded initial expectations, the Migration Ministry said on Monday.
A Ukrainian man has been found guilty of carrying out a series of arson attacks on properties linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after being recruited by a mystery figure known only as "EL Money".
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment