US Navy to add 4,500 hypersonic missiles under MACE program by 2031 fleetwide push

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 (MACE) 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 details Castelion developed Blackbeard as a compact, air-launched ballistic missile optimized for affordability and volume. The Office of Naval Research awarded the com…