China and Russia have hypersonic missiles. This $13 billion startup wants the U.S. to catch up

China and Russia possess hypersonic missiles, while the United States has yet to fully develop one. A California-based startup called Castelion aims to bridge that gap in defense technology. Castelion's valuation sits at $13 billion, making it one of the most valuable defense startups globally. The company's mission is rooted in the ambition to produce low-cost hypersonic missiles, a technology that could cross the United States' coast to coast in less than half an hour.

Hypersonic missiles are known for their speed, maneuverability, and ability to evade detection due to their low altitude flights and adaptability. Despite years of research and numerous successful tests, the U.S. has yet to field a hypersonic missile of its own, largely due to testing complications and production issues. In 2022, Castelion's founders, former SpaceX executives Bryon Hargis, Andrew Kreitz, and Sean Pitt, founded the company with the audacious goal of closing America's hypersonics gap.

Their initial pitch to the Pentagon's tech acceleration division met with skepticism and laughter. However, the tide has turned, and Castelion is now a leading figure in the defense tech boom.