US Navy CNO Caudle Inspects Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile as 444 Rounds Head to Carrier Jets

US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle inspected Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic strike missile during an October 28 visit to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The MACE programme weapon is undergoing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet integration, including a captive-carry test with two articles that were neither released nor fired. A production delivery order worth up to $200 million includes an initial tranche of 444 all-up rounds, with early operational capability targeted for 2028. The visit also addressed MQ-25 tanker development and software architecture, while Blackbeard's official range, warhead and guidance details remain undisclosed.