Castelion Starts Blackbeard Integration on the F-16 Under an Air Force Lab Contract
The Air Force Research Laboratory modified Castelion's contract to begin Blackbeard integration on the F-16. The startup disclosed no value, schedule or Air Force purchase plan.
An Air Force Research Laboratory contract change adds the F-16 to a hypersonic missile the Navy is already buying, with no value, schedule or Air Force purchase plan disclosed.
The Air Force Research Laboratory has modified Castelion's existing contract to begin integrating the Blackbeard hypersonic missile with the F-16, Castelion said on X on Oct. 26. The Torrance, California, startup was founded in 2022. It did not disclose the modification's value or duration. It gave no date for an F-16 to first carry or fire the weapon. AFRL did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Castelion announce about the F-16?
Castelion said on Oct. 26 that the Air Force Research Laboratory modified its existing contract to begin Blackbeard integration activities with the F-16.
How much is the F-16 integration work worth?
Castelion did not disclose a value or timeline. In September, AFRL added $16.4 million to an existing Castelion contract, raising it to $37.2 million through June 2028; the company has not said whether the F-16 work falls under it.
Has the Air Force decided to buy Blackbeard?
No purchase decision for operational F-16 units has been announced, per The Aviationist.
What has the Navy ordered?
A June order for 50 early operational capability rounds worth $23.4 million, and a September production order Castelion values at up to $200 million. The Pentagon contract notice lists $43.65 million for a first lot of 444 all-up rounds.
When could Blackbeard enter service?
Castelion targets early operational capability on the Navy's Super Hornet in 2027. No F-16 date has been given.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.