Saronic and Castelion have planned to collaborate on the launch of a hypersonic vehicle from an uncrewed surface vessel, with a demonstration scheduled for 2027.
The project involves integrating Castelion’s Blackbeard, a hypersonic missile, with Saronic’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Marauder.
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Both companies, which were established in late 2022, described the upcoming demonstration as the first of its kind, combining autonomous surface vessels and hypersonic technologies.
The companies outlined that this joint effort aims to provide an alternative to traditional crewed launch platforms by offering a lower-cost, uncrewed option to deploy hypersonic systems.
According to a joint statement released by the companies, using uncrewed vessels could expand the US’ operational flexibility and complicate the calculations of potential adversaries by increasing the number of potential launch locations and trajectories.
Saronic co-founder and CEO of Saronic Dino Mavrookas said: “Launching a Castelion hypersonic from a Marauder MUSV significantly changes the approach for any adversary calculating where and how the US can strike.
“Deterrence is ultimately a function of capability, capacity, and credibility. Saronic and Castelion are working to increase all three by combining autonomous maritime and hypersonic strike capabilities that are more scalable, more affordable, and faster to field.”
The companies stated that hypersonic systems deployed via uncrewed platforms would allow military commanders to generate more credible strike capacity without relying exclusively on high-value, limited crewed assets.
They noted that distributing launch capability widens operational choices and is intended to present challenges regarding launch detection and suppression.
The initiative builds on previous work between the two firms. In late 2025, Saronic participated in a Castelion Blackbeard flight test, providing its 24ft ASV Corsair as an autonomous, at-sea telemetry and communications node.
Both teams are advancing joint risk-reduction measures to support future tests and the planned maritime launch demonstration in 2027.
“Blackbeard and Marauder will give our warfighters more shots, from more places, with fewer constraints,” Castelion co-founder and CEO Bryon Hargis said.
Castelion and Saronic report quickly moving from design to practical testing.
The company completed over 25 Blackbeard flight tests in less than two and a half years from initial design. Saronic took less than a year to bring Marauder from design to on-water trials and is now building three additional vessels at its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard.
Both companies state they are able to move from design to testing in short timeframes. Castelion conducted more than 25 flight tests of Blackbeard within two and a half years of its initial design.
Saronic also completed Marauder’s design and began on-water trials in less than a year and is constructing three more vessels in Franklin, Louisiana.
The announcement of their collaboration comes closely after the US Department of the Navy advanced seven companies including Saronic to the at-sea testing phase for its MUSV Family of Systems programme.
