Navy budget reveals $1.6B plan for thousands of low-cost hypersonic missiles for Super Hornets and F-35Cs by 2031.
The U.S. Navy plans a major expansion of its hypersonic strike arsenal, according to budget documents released April 21. The service aims to procure roughly 4,500 air-launched hypersonic missiles over the next five years.
These weapons will arm carrier-based fighters and strengthen rapid-response strike capability. Budget filings show the Navy has allocated $1.6 billion for 4,157 missiles between fiscal 2028 and 2031. Another 353 missiles could be purchased in fiscal 2027 for $156 million, pending congressional approval. The effort falls under the Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector program.
The initiative reflects a broader Pentagon push to field affordable, high-volume hypersonic systems. The Navy expects MACE to become its most widely available hypersonic weapon. Service entry could begin as early as 2027, with early operational capability planned the same year. Budget documents place the average cost per missile at about $384,000, a relatively low figure for hypersonic-class weapons.
Procurement ramps up quickly after the initial batch. The Navy could buy 691 missiles in 2028, then 976 in 2029. Planned purchases rise to 1,115 in 2030 and 1,375 in 2031, though final numbers remain unconfirmed. These volumes suggest the Navy wants scale, not just capability.
Officials selected the missile through a competitive process managed by the Small Business Innovation Research program. While documents do not name contractors, industry reporting points to Castelion’s Blackbeard missile as the likely winner. The selection marks a fast-moving acquisition cycle. The pace stands out.
The Navy released its initial request for information just over two years ago. It has already moved toward large-scale procurement. That speed signals urgency in countering evolving maritime threats. Blackbeard missile detailsCastelion developed Blackbeard as a compact, air-launched ballistic missile optimized for affordability and volume.
The Office of Naval Research awarded the company a $3 million contract in 2024 to study the design of an “air-launched anti-surface weapon. ”Design constraints included a maximum length of 212 inches and a weight cap of 2,750 pounds. These limits allow compatibility with existing aircraft and internal carriage requirements. The missile carries a relatively small 95-pound warhead, prioritizing speed and precision.
Blackbeard operates in a similar range class as the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile. That system exceeds 200 nautical miles and can reach up to 500 nautical miles. Blackbeard offers a different approach. It focuses on engaging time-sensitive targets at hypersonic speeds rather than delivering heavier payloads.
Production could scale rapidly. The industrial base may reach output levels of at least 500 missiles annually once fully established. Some of the initial $156 million allocation may support manufacturing readiness and supply chain build-out. Aircraft integration plansThe Navy plans to deploy MACE primarily on Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II jets.
These aircraft will gain a high-volume hypersonic strike option suited for contested environments. The F-35C offers a unique advantage. Its internal weapons bays can carry up to four Blackbeard missiles. This enables the aircraft to retain a low radar cross-section while adding hypersonic capability.
It also increases the number of weapons available per sortie. The missile may also extend beyond naval aviation. Reports suggest possible integration with U.S. Army platforms such as HIMARS. That would expand its operational footprint and enable joint force applications.
Even the first 353 missiles could deliver an immediate capability boost. At full scale, MACE could become the most abundant hypersonic weapon in the Navy’s inventory, reshaping how the service approaches high-speed, time-critical strike missions.
Castelion F-35C F/A-18 Super Hornet Hypersonic Missiles MACE Program Pentagon Budget U.S. Navy
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