The U.S. Navy has placed its first order for 50 Blackbeard hypersonic missiles with defense contractor Castlion, moving the weapon from development to operational testing on F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet fighters. The $23.4 million contract provides pre‑production missiles for flight trials, operational evaluation, safety certification and integration with aircraft carriers and carrier‑based aircraft. Blackbeard is designed to exceed Mach 5, offering a long‑range, hard‑to‑track strike capability at a lower cost than other U.S. hypersonic programs. If the tests succeed, the Navy plans to procure thousands more to boost the strike power of its carrier fleet against sea and land targets.