The U.S. Army has confirmed it will move the Blackbeard Ground Launch (GL) hypersonic strike weapon into its Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase, allocating $25 million under Project HX3 in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. This funding supports continued integration of the missile into the widely deployed High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), marking a formal transition from earlier prototype and testing efforts. Blackbeard GL is designed to enhance HIMARS with a cost-effective, mid-range hypersonic precision strike capability against time-sensitive, mobile, or hardened targets. According to Army budget documents, the missile will deliver around 80% of the capability of the future Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4, at a significantly reduced cost. This next-generation system uses seeker-based terminal guidance, allowing it to engage moving or concealed targets even in degraded conditions. Its integration into modified Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM) pods enables compatibility with both HIMARS and the tracked M270 launcher, offering operational flexibility with minimal changes to existing platforms. The Blackbeard GL programme is being led by Castelion Corporation, a defence technology company founded in 2022. Castelion has reportedly received over $100 million in private venture funding and about $22 million in government contracts, and focuses on fast-turnaround, scalable production of hypersonic and high-speed weapons.

Full report : Blackbeard GL hypersonic missile poised to supercharge U.S. Army’s HIMARS by 2028.

For more see the OODA Company Profile on Castelion.