Defense startup Castelion recently released photos of the ground launch of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile. (Picture taken from X@Castelion)
[Reporter Wu Zheyu/Comprehensive Report] The U.S. Army continues to strengthen its long-range precision strike capabilities. Defense startup Castelion recently released photos of the ground launch of the "Blackbeard" hypersonic missile, showing that this new weapon may be planned to be integrated into the M142 "HIMARS" high-mobility multiple rocket system in the future. The range may be close to 800 kilometers, giving existing rocket launcher units the ability to strike high-value targets at longer distances.
Military news report "Army Recognition" pointed out that Castellone released the latest photos on the official X account on the 8th. The launcher uses a heavy-duty military truck carrying a small missile container, which can be quickly deployed in dispersed positions and quickly transferred after launch, reducing the risk of enemy counterattacks. However, the photos do not confirm that "Blackbeard" was successfully launched from a standard "Haimas" launcher.
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According to the U.S. Army's research and development plan, the ground-launched version of "Blackbeard GL" will first be tested using an improved multiple launch rocket system launch box, then a special launch box will be developed, and finally a flight demonstration will be performed through the "Haimas" fire control system. If the integration is successful, the US military will be able to use hypersonic weapons with existing rocket launchers without having to deploy a large number of dedicated launch vehicles.
Haimas can currently carry six 227mm guided rockets, one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile, or two Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). The addition of "Blackbeard" in the future will further expand the options for attacking moving targets, solid facilities and time-sensitive targets.
"Blackbeard" adopts a two-section design, consisting of a booster and an upper-stage flight vehicle. Ground-launched and air-launched versions are being developed simultaneously. Castellon has previously proposed a strike range of close to 800 kilometers, but it has not been publicly confirmed that the ground-launched version can reach this range. The actual performance still depends on the propulsion system, payload and flight trajectory.
According to the U.S. Army's 2027 budget document, the "Haimas Extended Range Demonstration" plan, which will cost approximately US$82.9 million, will use missiles and launch boxes close to mass production configurations for live-fire testing, and plans to manufacture 10 test bombs. The US military hopes to obtain about 80% of the combat capabilities of the original PrSM Enhancement Phase 4 (Increment 4) plan at a significantly lower cost.
Compared with the "Dark Eagle" long-range hypersonic weapon that uses a large dedicated launch vehicle, the "Blackbeard" emphasizes its smaller size, lower cost and easy integration with existing troops. The United States has also proposed that after completing testing and certification, it may reach a production of at least 500 pieces per year in the future. Castellone is also developing an air-launched version for the Navy's F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" fighter aircraft.
According to report analysis, this type of weapon is particularly suitable for the dispersed deployment of combat needs in the Indo-Pacific region. In the future, "Haimas" troops can threaten enemy missile positions, command centers and logistics facilities from different islands and coastal positions. However, "Blackbeard" is still in the research and development stage, and has not yet completed "Haimas" fire control integration and formal combat verification, and the actual service schedule has yet to be confirmed.
