Castelion, based in Torrance, California, is developing Blackbeard, a lower-cost hypersonic strike missile built for volume production. In August 2026 it raised $800 million in equity plus a $250 million credit facility at a $13 billion valuation.
At a glance
| Price from | Custom |
| Best for | Militaries seeking affordable long-range strike |
From Castelion's own website.
What stands out
- Designed for mass production
- Backed by JPMorganChase, Andreessen Horowitz and Carlyle
Worth knowing
- Missile not yet deployed
- Factory still being built out
How it ranks
Castelion is ranked 5th of 10 in Best Defense Tech Startups (Lister Score 92.6).
#5 in Best Defense Tech Startups · Lister Score 92.6
Castelion is building Blackbeard at a 1,000-acre site in Sandoval County, New Mexico, and says it aims to deploy the missile in 2027..
| Rank | Best Defense Tech Startups | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anduril Industries | 97.3 |
| 2 | Shield AI | 96.1 |
| 3 | Helsing | 95.0 |
| 4 | Saronic Technologies | 93.8 |
| 5 | Castelion | 92.6 |
| 6 | Quantum Systems | 91.4 |
| 7 | Hadrian | 90.1 |
| 8 | CHAOS Industries | 88.9 |
| 9 | Epirus | 87.6 |
| 10 | Mach Industries | 86.3 |
Frequently asked questions
How does Castelion rank on Lister?
Castelion is ranked 5th of 10 in Best Defense Tech Startups (Lister Score 92.6).
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