Saronic and Castelion have announced plans to integrate the Blackbeard hypersonic missile with the Marauder unmanned surface vessel (USV) in a 2027 demonstration set to mark the first hypersonic weapon launch from a USV.
The demonstration is intended to accelerate the deployment of distributed hypersonic strike capabilities without relying on expensive crewed platforms.
It is also expected to enhance magazine depth, increase operational flexibility, and present adversaries with a wider range of launch locations, trajectories, and timing challenges.
“Blackbeard and Marauder will give our warfighters more shots, from more places, with fewer constraints,” Castelion Co-Founder and CEO Bryon Hargis said.
To support the effort, the two companies are conducting joint risk-reduction activities ahead of future testing and the planned demonstration.
“Launching a Castelion hypersonic from a Marauder MUSV significantly changes the approach for any adversary calculating where and how the US can strike,” Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic Dino Mavrookas added.
“Deterrence is ultimately a function of capability, capacity, and credibility. Saronic and Castelion are working to increase all three by combining autonomous maritime and hypersonic strike capabilities that are more scalable, more affordable, and faster to field.”
Marauder With Blackbeard
Saronic’s Marauder autonomous surface vessel has been selected for the at-sea testing phase of the US Navy’s MUSV program, which aims to field 81 surface vessels with modular payloads capable of supporting both crewed and uncrewed operations without extensive redesign.
The 150-foot (45-meter) vessel can carry payloads of up to 40 metric tons (88,184 pounds), cruise at 12 knots (22 kilometers/13 miles per hour), and reach burst speeds of more than 18 knots (33 kilometers/20 miles per hour) during rapid maneuvers.
In parallel, Castelion is advancing development of the Blackbeard hypersonic missile, intended for deployment across multiple launch domains, including surface vessels, aircraft, and land-based systems.
Designed for mass production and rapid deployment, the missile incorporates in-house propulsion and guidance technologies to reduce costs while maintaining performance.
Blackbeard is being developed as a hypersonic glide body or booster-integrated weapon capable of conducting long-range strikes against defended targets, offering rapid response and enhanced survivability against modern air defense systems.
