Blackbeard
Hypersonic strike weapon designed for industrial-rate output and low unit cost; Navy F/A-18 integration toward Early Operational Capability in 2027.
Prototype
- Unveiled
- Jun 2025
- Contract award
- Sep 15, 2026
Domain
Strike and munitions
Weapons that deliver effects on targets: missiles, guided munitions, one-way attack drones.
Maturity not rated
Input links
4
Here and in 7 below
Breakdown2
- Loitering munitionsUncrewed aircraft that search for and strike targets, expending themselves in the attack.FieldedMaturity of entries: 1 prototype
- Low-cost missilesMissiles and rockets designed for lower unit cost and higher production rates than legacy designs.FieldedMaturity of entries: 1 fielded, 2 development
Products13
APKWS II
Laser-guidance kit converting 2.75-inch Hydra-70 rockets into precision munitions; used air- and ground-launched against drones.
Fielded
- Combat use
- 2024
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Desmond Parks · Public domain (PD-USGov)
Coyote Block 2
Rail-launched, turbine-powered counter-UAS interceptor with RF seeker and fragmentation warhead; the Army's LIDS effector.
Fielded
Freedom Eagle-1
Solid-rocket counter-UAS missile (originally BlueHalo) for Group 2-3 drones with RF seeker and 20 lb warhead; Army NGCM winner.
Prototype
Rogue 1
Small VTOL loitering munition that can be recovered and reused; supplied for the Marine Corps OPF-L program.
Limited fielding
Oct 5, 2026NewsAventraExclusive: Guided Glide Bomb Startup Aventra Raises $17.5MTectonicOct 5, 2026NewsAirlogix, AuterionAuterion and Airlogix take Ukraine's defence production model globalResilience MediaOct 1, 2026News (high significance)Defense Innovation Unit, Tiberius Aerospace, UK Ministry of DefenceTiberius Aerospace announces $500 million contract for U.S.-developed Sceptre munition to expand allied artillery productionDefence Industry EuropeSep 15, 2026CompanySpecter AerospaceVulcanForms and Specter Aerospace Partner to Accelerate U.S. Hypersonic Manufacturing CapacityVulcanForms and Specter Aerospace via PR Newswire
- Oct 5, 2026NewsTectonicExclusive: Guided Glide Bomb Startup Aventra Raises $17.5M
- Oct 5, 2026NewsResilience MediaAuterion and Airlogix take Ukraine's defence production model global
- Oct 1, 2026News (high significance)Defence Industry EuropeTiberius Aerospace announces $500 million contract for U.S.-developed Sceptre munition to expand allied artillery production
- Sep 15, 2026CompanyVulcanForms and Specter Aerospace via PR NewswireVulcanForms and Specter Aerospace Partner to Accelerate U.S. Hypersonic Manufacturing Capacity
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