(http://gmpg.org/xfn/11) (https://www.twz.com/xmlrpc.php) (../wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Blackbeard-ground-launch.jpg@quality=85)   (https://fonts.googleapis.com/)  (https://fonts.gstatic.com/)  Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile Shown Being Fired From Ground Launcher  (blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-shown-being-fired-from-ground-launcher.html)                       (https://btloader.com/)  (https://static.chartbeat.com/)  (../wp-content/client-mu-plugins/recurrent/dist/css/frontend.css@m=1791381750g.css)  (../wp-content/themes/twz/css/app.css@m=1791381753g.css)  (https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Source+Serif+4%3Aital%2Copsz%2Cwght%400%2C8..60%2C200..900%3B1%2C8..60%2C200..900&display=swap&ver=0.1.0)  (../../fonts.googleapis.com/css2@family=Source+Serif+4%253Aital,opsz,wght@0,8..60,200..900%3B1,8..60,200..900&display=swap&ver=0.1.0.css)  (../wp-content/client-mu-plugins/recurrent/dist/css/lightbox.css@m=1791381750g.css)         (https://www.twz.com/land/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-shown-being-fired-from-ground-launcher.md)       (https://www.twz.com/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/armies/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/land/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/land-based-conventional-hypersonic-weapons/feed)  (https://www.twz.com/category/us-army/feed)  (../wp-content/uploads/2024/01/30/TWZ_Favicon.png@quality=85&w=32)  (../wp-content/uploads/2024/01/30/TWZ_Favicon.png@quality=85&w=167)  (../wp-content/uploads/2024/01/30/TWZ_Favicon.png@quality=85&w=167)      (https://www.twz.com/) (TWZ Logo)    (https://www.facebook.com/thewarzonewire)       (https://twitter.com/thewarzonewire)       (https://www.instagram.com/thewarzonewire)         (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-war-zone/)       (https://www.youtube.com/@thewarzone)        (https://www.twz.com/feed)                      (https://www.twz.com/latest) Latest  (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) News & Features  (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Sea  (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Land  (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Space  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Nuclear  (https://twz.beehiiv.com/) Newsletter     Search for: () (Search...)               (https://www.twz.com/latest) Latest  (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) News & Features          (https://www.twz.com/category/artificial-intelligence) Artificial Intelligence  (https://www.twz.com/category/bunker-talk) Bunker Talk  (https://www.twz.com/category/cyber-warfare) Cyber Warfare  (https://www.twz.com/category/espionage) Espionage  (https://www.twz.com/category/procurement) Procurement  (https://www.twz.com/category/terrorism) Terrorism  (https://www.twz.com/category/history) History  (https://www.twz.com/category/around-the-globe) Around The Globe  (https://www.twz.com/category/continuity-of-government) Continuity Of Government  (https://www.twz.com/category/bunkers-installations) Bunkers & Installations  (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air          (https://www.twz.com/category/air-forces) Air Forces  (https://www.twz.com/category/airships-blimps) Airships & Blimps  (https://www.twz.com/category/military-aviation-history) Military Aviation History  (https://www.twz.com/category/naval-aviation) Naval Aviation  (https://www.twz.com/category/fighters) Fighters  (https://www.twz.com/category/attack) Attack  (https://www.twz.com/category/aggressors) Aggressors  (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Sea          (https://www.twz.com/category/navies) Navies  (https://www.twz.com/category/naval-history) Naval History  (https://www.twz.com/category/amphibious-operations) Amphibious Operations  (https://www.twz.com/category/us-marine-corps) U.S. Marine Corps  (https://www.twz.com/category/carriers) Carriers  (https://www.twz.com/category/big-deck-amphibious-assault-ships) Big Deck Amphibious Assault Ships  (https://www.twz.com/category/amphibious-assault-ships) Amphibious Assault Ships  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea-bases) Sea Bases  (https://www.twz.com/category/cruisers) Cruisers  (https://www.twz.com/category/destroyers) Destroyers  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Land          (https://www.twz.com/category/armies) Armies  (https://www.twz.com/category/land-warfare-history) Land Warfare History  (https://www.twz.com/category/tanks) Tanks  (https://www.twz.com/category/armored-vehicles) Armored Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/light-vehicles) Light Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/unmanned-ground-vehicles) Unmanned Ground Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/artillery) Artillery  (https://www.twz.com/category/tactical-ballistic-missiles) Tactical Ballistic Missiles  (https://www.twz.com/category/mrbms-irbms) MRBMs/IRBMs  (https://www.twz.com/category/land-based-conventional-hypersonic-weapons) Land-Based Conventional Hypersonic Weapons  (https://www.twz.com/category/anti-aircraft-artillery) Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)  (https://www.twz.com/category/man-portable-air-defense-systems) Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS)  (https://www.twz.com/category/counter-unmanned-aerial-vehicles) Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)  (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Space          (https://www.twz.com/category/us-space-force) U.S. Space Force  (https://www.twz.com/category/war-in-space) War In Space  (https://www.twz.com/category/nasa) NASA  (https://www.twz.com/category/russian-space-program) Russian Space Program  (https://www.twz.com/category/chinese-space-program) Chinese Space Program  (https://www.twz.com/category/orbital-systems) Orbital Systems  (https://www.twz.com/category/anti-satellite-capabilities) Anti-Satellite Capabilities  (https://www.twz.com/category/launch-vehicles) Launch Vehicles  (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Nuclear          (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-command-and-control) Nuclear Command And Control  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-power) Nuclear Power  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-propulsion) Nuclear Propulsion  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-policy) Nuclear Policy  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-history) Nuclear History  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-proliferation) Nuclear Proliferation  (https://www.twz.com/category/air-launched-nuclear-missles) Air-Launched Nuclear Missles  (https://www.twz.com/category/ground-launched-nuclear-cruise-missile) Ground-Launched Nuclear Cruise Missile  (https://www.twz.com/category/battlefield-nuclear-weapons) Battlefield Nuclear Weapons  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-warheads) Nuclear Warheads  (https://www.twz.com/category/status-6-poseidon) Status-6 Poseidon  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear-bombs) Nuclear Bombs  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Show More...    (https://www.twz.com/rebuilding-the-arsenal-2026) Rebuilding the Arsenal  Events          (https://www.twz.com/ausa-2026) AUSA 2026  (https://www.twz.com/air-space-cyber-2026) Air, Space & Cyber 2026  (https://www.twz.com/space-missile-defense-symposium-2026) SMD Symposium 2026  (https://www.twz.com/special-operations-forces-week-2026) SOF Week 2026  (https://www.twz.com/modern-day-marine-2026) Modern Day Marine 2026  (https://www.twz.com/sea-air-space-2026) Sea-Air-Space 2026  (https://www.twz.com/afa-warfare-symposium-2026) AFA Warfare Symposium 2026  (https://www.twz.com/army-aviation-association-of-america-2026) AAAA Summit 2026  (https://www.twz.com/ausa-global-force-2026) AUSA Global Force 2026  (https://www.twz.com/tailhook-event-2025) Tailhook 2025    (https://link.twz.com/join/79r/signup-war-zone) Newsletter  (https://the-war-zone-shop.fourthwall.com/) Merch  (https://www.twz.com/about) About TWZ            (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Land  (https://www.twz.com/category/armies) Armies  (https://www.twz.com/category/us-army) U.S. Army    Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile Shown Being Fired From Ground Launcher Blackbeard is part of the Army’s push to make hypersonic weapons more mobile and affordable. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick      Published  Oct 8, 2026 12:32 PM EDT     (blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-shown-being-fired-from-ground-launcher.html#comments)    0           (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=twz.com) Add TWZ (opens in a new tab)      More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.        (Castelion has released what appears to be the clearest evidence yet of its Blackbeard hypersonic missile being fired from a purpose-built ground launcher, providing a new look at the containerized launch architecture being developed for the U.S. Army.)   Castelion    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (d4833ead7b)  (/land/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-shown-being-fired-from-ground-launcher)  (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy        Castelion has released what appears to be the first image of its (https://www.twz.com/air/this-is-the-new-blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-weapon)  (https://www.twz.com/land/blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-strike-missile-being-developed-for-u-s-army) relatively ‘cheap’ Blackbeard hypersonic missile being fired from a ground launcher, providing a new look at the containerized launch architecture now under development for the U.S. Army. The photograph, posted by Castelion on X, shows a Blackbeard missile leaving a launcher mounted on a high-mobility truck chassis. While the missile itself is (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-seen-flying-on-f-a-18-super-hornet-for-the-first-time) by now a familiar sight , the new image offers a first public glimpse of how Castelion intends to package and operate the ground-launched version of Blackbeard, known as Blackbeard GL. Container-compatible Blackbeard. Built to move with the fight. (https://t.co/OzWbiChCPQ) pic.twitter.com/OzWbiChCPQ  — Castelion (@Castelion) (https://x.com/Castelion/status/2108165513687728306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) October 8, 2026    The Army’s previously disclosed plans for the program call for an initial Blackbeard ground-launch demonstration using a modified (https://www.twz.com/land/mobile-launcher-that-can-fire-four-times-as-weapons-as-himars-emerges) Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions , or MFOM, pod, followed by the development of Blackbeard GL prototypes and a dedicated launcher pod. Ultimately, the service intends to conduct an MVP flight test using the (https://www.twz.com/what-himars-rocket-systems-can-and-cant-do-for-ukraine) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System ’s (HIMARS) fire-control system. Blackbeard for HIMARS. (https://t.co/uA9XgcGvsI) pic.twitter.com/uA9XgcGvsI  — Castelion (@Castelion) (https://x.com/Castelion/status/2084334790312935550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) August 3, 2026    The Army’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget documentation indicates that this effort is moving toward increasingly representative hardware. Among the milestones listed for FY2027 is a live-fire launch of a “production representative” Blackbeard GL and launcher pod. Castelion has already released extensive imagery of Blackbeard test vehicles, and the company formally unveiled the weapon’s current external configuration (https://www.twz.com/air/this-is-the-new-blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-weapon) earlier this year . Those images showed a two-stage arrangement with a booster and an upper vehicle that has characteristics consistent with a hypersonic glide or maneuvering payload. Compared to the air-launched version, seen below, the ground-launch model lacks the cruciform tailfins at the rear of the lower stage, but otherwise appears similar. ()  The first official photo of the Blackbeard missile. Castelion   The precise propulsion system and flight profile of the production weapon remain undisclosed. Little is known about its performance parameters, either. Castelion has previously hinted that the missile could strike targets at ranges of just under 500 miles, although its range would likely be reduced when launched from the ground, without the altitude and speed provided by an aircraft launch platform. The launcher appears to use a relatively compact enclosed container, consistent with the Army’s stated interest in leveraging the existing MFOM ecosystem and, eventually, HIMARS. The photograph doesn’t establish how many Blackbeards could be carried by a single launcher, although, based on the dimensions, at least two and perhaps as many as four missiles appears a feasible load. ()  A mock-up of an ATACMS missile next to one of a standardized MFOM. U.S. Army   Exactly how closely the pictured launcher corresponds to the eventual production Blackbeard GL pod is also not yet clear. Castelion has previously stressed that its test hardware is deliberately designed to support rapid development cycles and should not necessarily be interpreted as representative of the final weapon system. Castelion had previously shown Blackbeard-related test articles alongside palletized launch equipment, including launch hardware mounted on an Oshkosh MKR18 Logistics Vehicle System Replacement truck. The company has also said it was converting such a vehicle into a launcher for flight testing. That appears to be the vehicle shown in the new image, too. ()  A test article that Castelion has used in previous testing related to Blackbeard in front of a palletized launcher loaded on a truck.Castelion Corporation   The Army’s interest in Blackbeard GL is rooted in cost as much as performance. The service has described the weapon as an affordable, mass-produced hypersonic precision-fire capability intended to engage time-sensitive moving and hardened targets. The stated objective has been to obtain roughly 80 percent of the capability of the Army’s planned (https://www.twz.com/air/armys-new-ballistic-missile-should-be-adapted-into-an-air-launched-weapon) Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 while achieving a substantially lower cost per round. Existing U.S. hypersonic weapons such as the Army’s Dark Eagle (https://www.twz.com/land/new-dark-eagle-hypersonic-weapon-details-emerge) Long Range Hypersonic Weapon use large, highly specialized launch equipment. Blackbeard is instead being developed around the idea that a hypersonic weapon can be sufficiently compact, inexpensive, and manufacturable to be treated more like a conventional tactical munition. (The U.S. Army’s Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon assigned to Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery (Long Range Fires Battalion), 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, participates in the Navy-led exercise Resolute Hunter 26-1 on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Nov. 19, 2025. Resolute Hunter 26-1 is the Department of War's only dedicated Battle Management, Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (BMC2ISR) exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert))  The U.S. Army’s Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapon assigned to Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery (Long Range Fires Battalion), 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, participates in an exercise on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert  A containerized launcher compatible with an existing mobile fires ecosystem would reinforce that concept. It could allow the Army to introduce a new hypersonic effect without creating an entirely separate launcher, crew, transport, and reload architecture. The ground-launched version is only one part of Castelion’s broader Blackbeard effort. The company is also working with the Navy to (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-seen-flying-on-f-a-18-super-hornet-for-the-first-time) integrate the weapon onto the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet . In April, Castelion received a $105 million Navy contract supporting integration and the transition toward an early operational capability, while a subsequent $23.4 million order covered 50 early-operational-capability pre-production missiles and associated storage and shipping containers. (A pair of Blackbeard hypersonic missiles mounted on a Super Hornet during a developmental test flight on September 18. The test was another step in the program's progression to Early Operational Capability (EOC).)  A pair of Blackbeard hypersonic missiles mounted on a Super Hornet during a developmental test flight on September 18, 2026. Edited photo from PAE(A) U.S. Defense Media Activity/Edited photo from PAE(A)  The Navy has since moved into additional procurement, underscoring Castelion’s effort to establish Blackbeard as a weapon that can be produced in the quantities required. Blackbeard could also find its way onto Navy ships and submarines, as well as ground-based launchers, as we have (https://www.twz.com/air/u-s-navy-air-launched-version-of-cheap-blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-hinted-at) discussed in the past . As for the Army, the next major milestone will be the planned production-representative Blackbeard GL and launcher-pod live-fire testing.  ()  An earlier Blackbeard-related test launch. Castelion   “Once Castelion achieves testing and validation, the Department will award a two-year multi-year procurement contract for a minimum of 500 Blackbeard missiles annually, with options to extend for up to five years,” the Pentagon (https://www.twz.com/sea/10000-low-cost-cruise-missiles-in-three-years-procurement-plan-laid-out-by-pentagon) announced in May of this year. “To further encourage Castelion’s self-funded facility expansion, the Department is actively seeking the necessary authorizations and appropriations to purchase over 12,000 Blackbeard missiles over five years.” This reflects a (https://www.twz.com/air/shaking-up-u-s-industrial-base-key-to-cheap-cruise-missile-program) broader and accelerating U.S. military push for (https://www.twz.com/air/cheap-cruise-missile-program-to-speed-up-with-replicator-initiative-help) lower-cost precision weapons that can be manufactured relatively simply and at scale, increasingly with help from (https://www.twz.com/air/new-cheap-cruise-missile-concept-flight-tested-by-silicon-valley-backed-start-up) non-traditional defense contractors . The goal is to build large stockpiles affordably before a major contingency, particularly a potential large-scale conflict with China in the Pacific, while ensuring production can keep pace with demand during a prolonged war. For now, Castelion has demonstrated what the Army’s Blackbeard launch system actually looks like when it fires, at least in its initial form. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com  (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) (Thomas Newdick Avatar)   (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick   Staff Writer    Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at  TWZ  , where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond.   (https://twitter.com/CombatAir)           Loading comments…  Comments couldn’t be loaded. Please refresh the page.         Latest in U.S. Army (https://www.twz.com/sponsored-content/sikorskys-black-hawk-2070-strategy-includes-drones-new-engines-and-flying-the-pilotless-u-hawk-this-year) (A planned suite of UH-60 upgrades includes the uncrewed U-Hawk, new engines, more range, launched effects, and expanding autonomy. All this is part of Sikorsky's 2070 Black Hawk program.)     Sponsored Content   (https://www.twz.com/sponsored-content/sikorskys-black-hawk-2070-strategy-includes-drones-new-engines-and-flying-the-pilotless-u-hawk-this-year) Sikorsky’s “Black Hawk 2070” Strategy Includes Drones, New Engines, And Flying The Pilotless U-Hawk This Year   Branded Content: A planned suite of UH-60 upgrades includes the uncrewed U-Hawk, new engines, more range, launched effects, and expanding autonomy. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/jamie-hunter) Jamie Hunter        12:41 PM  October 8, 2026      (https://www.twz.com/air/apache-crew-rescue-highlights-need-for-ai-in-combat-says-joint-chiefs-chairman) (AI helped rescue two crewmembers of an AH-64 Apache helicopter downed by Iran, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/ah-64) AH-64   (https://www.twz.com/air/apache-crew-rescue-highlights-need-for-ai-in-combat-says-joint-chiefs-chairman) Apache Crew Rescue Highlights Need For AI In Combat Says Joint Chiefs Chairman   AI enabled troops to manage networks of unmanned systems across thousands of miles of water and to pull assets together for a quick rescue. By (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman        3:36 PM  September 16, 2026        ()    The TWZ Newsletter  Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (https://twz.beehiiv.com/) Sign Up  By signing up you agree to our(https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy.           More   (https://www.twz.com/land/blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-strike-missile-being-developed-for-u-s-army) (The U.S. Army wants to see if a startup founded three years ago by former SpaceX employees can deliver a lower-cost ground-launched missile, dubbed Blackbeard, capable of engaging targets hundreds of miles away at hypersonic speeds.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/precision-strike-missile) Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)   (https://www.twz.com/land/blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-strike-missile-being-developed-for-u-s-army) Blackbeard ‘Cheap’ Hypersonic Strike Missile Being Developed For U.S. Army (Updated)   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/this-is-the-new-blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-weapon) (Castelion’s Blackbeard hypersonic missile.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/air-launched-hypersonic-missiles) Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles   (https://www.twz.com/air/this-is-the-new-blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-weapon) This Is The New Blackbeard ‘Cheap’ Hypersonic Weapon   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick) Thomas Newdick           (https://www.twz.com/air/u-s-navy-air-launched-version-of-cheap-blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-hinted-at) (A contract the U.S. Navy recently awarded to defense startup Castelion may point to its pursuit of a new, lower-cost, air-launched hypersonic strike weapon.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/air-launched-hypersonic-missiles) Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles   (https://www.twz.com/air/u-s-navy-air-launched-version-of-cheap-blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-hinted-at) U.S. Navy Air-Launched Version Of ‘Cheap’ Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile Hinted At   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-low-cost-hypersonic-missile-testing-on-the-f-a-18-super-hornet-has-begun) (The air-launched version of Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic strike missile for the U.S. Navy has now at least been test-loaded onto an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-low-cost-hypersonic-missile-testing-on-the-f-a-18-super-hornet-has-begun) Blackbeard Low-Cost Hypersonic Missile Testing On The F/A-18 Super Hornet Has Begun   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-seen-flying-on-f-a-18-super-hornet-for-the-first-time) (The U.S. Navy has given us the first look at Blackbeard hypersonic strike missiles under the wings of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets during actual flight testing.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/fa-18ef) F/A-18E/F   (https://www.twz.com/air/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-seen-flying-on-f-a-18-super-hornet-for-the-first-time) Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile Seen Flying On F/A-18 Super Hornet For The First Time   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/air/first-release-of-usafs-new-hacm-hypersonic-cruise-missile-has-happened-over-a-test-range-in-australia) (The U.S. Air Force's scramjet-powered Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) has finally reached the flight test phase, with at least one "release" having been carried out so far over a range in Australia.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/air-launched-hypersonic-cruise-missiles) Air-launched hypersonic cruise missiles   (https://www.twz.com/air/first-release-of-usafs-new-hacm-hypersonic-cruise-missile-has-happened-over-a-test-range-in-australia) First Release Of USAF’s New HACM Hypersonic Cruise Missile Has Happened Over Australian Range   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick ,  (https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman) Howard Altman           (https://www.twz.com/sea/10000-low-cost-cruise-missiles-in-three-years-procurement-plan-laid-out-by-pentagon) (The Pentagon has outlined plans to acquire at least 10,000 lower-cost cruise missiles over the next three years, as well as a similar number of relatively 'cheap' Blackbeard hypersonic missiles.)     (https://www.twz.com/category/land-based-conventional-hypersonic-weapons) Land-Based Conventional Hypersonic Weapons   (https://www.twz.com/sea/10000-low-cost-cruise-missiles-in-three-years-procurement-plan-laid-out-by-pentagon) 10,000 Low-Cost Cruise Missiles In Three Years Procurement Plan Laid Out By Pentagon (Updated)   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/land/hunt-for-new-lower-cost-strike-missile-with-1000-kilometer-range-underway-by-u-s-army) (Hunt For New Lower-Cost Strike Missile With 1,000-Kilometer Range Underway By U.S. Army)     (https://www.twz.com/category/us-army) U.S. Army   (https://www.twz.com/land/hunt-for-new-lower-cost-strike-missile-with-1000-kilometer-range-underway-by-u-s-army) Hunt For New Lower-Cost Strike Missile With 1,000-Kilometer Range Underway By U.S. Army   By (https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick) Joseph Trevithick           (https://www.twz.com/category/land) SEE MORE         (https://www.twz.com/) ()    The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.   (handle_newsletter_email_submission) (d4833ead7b)  (/land/blackbeard-hypersonic-missile-shown-being-fired-from-ground-launcher)  (TWZInline) (0) Email address  (Enter your email) (Please enter a valid email address)  Sign Up  Thank you!      (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms of Service and(https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy       (https://www.twz.com/editorial-standards) Editorial Standards  (https://www.twz.com/about) About TWZ  (https://www.twz.com/contact-us) Contact Us  (https://www.twz.com/the-team) The Team   (https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/) Terms & Conditions  (https://www.twz.com/sitemap) Sitemap   FOLLOW US (https://www.facebook.com/thewarzonewire)      (https://twitter.com/thewarzonewire)      (https://www.instagram.com/thewarzonewire)        (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-war-zone/)      (https://www.youtube.com/@thewarzone)       (https://www.twz.com/feed)             DISCLAIMER(S) © 2026(https://recurrent.io/) Recurrent Ventures. All Rights Reserved. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information .       (https://www.twz.com/category/news-features) News & Features  (https://www.twz.com/category/air) Air  (https://www.twz.com/category/sea) Sea  (https://www.twz.com/category/land) Land  (https://www.twz.com/category/space) Space  (https://www.twz.com/category/nuclear) Nuclear  (https://the-war-zone-shop.fourthwall.com/) Merch