Latest news with #GL
Filipino Times
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
Kylie Padilla open to GL project with Jasmine Curtis-Smith
Actress Kylie Padilla expressed interest in working on a girls' love (GL) project with Jasmine Curtis-Smith, responding to a fan's post on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), a user shared, 'Ang fantasy ko ngayon ay GL ni Kylie Padilla and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.' 'Me too pero ako masc,' Padilla replied, indicating her willingness to take on the more masculine role in the pairing. Padilla previously starred in the GL series BetCin alongside Andrea Torres in 2021. Curtis-Smith, for her part, is currently part of the cast of Open Endings, a GL film competing in the 2024 Cinemalaya Film Festival. The film also stars Klea Pineda, Janella Salvador, and Leanne Mamonong of OPM duo Leanne & Naara. As of writing, no official project featuring the two actresses has been announced.
GMA Network
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Kylie Padilla wants to star with Jasmine Curtis-Smith in a GL project
A GL project with Kylie Padilla and Jasmine Curtis-Smith? Consider us seated! On X (formerly Twitter), Kylie responded to a fan who posted, "Ang fantasy ko ngayon ay GL ni Kylie Padilla and Jasmine Curtis-Smith." Kylie replied that it's her fantasy too—adding that she'd love to take on the role of a masculine girl. "Me too pero ako masc," she wrote. Kylie previously starred in the GL series "BetCin" with Andrea Torres. Meanwhile, Jasmine is starring in the Cinemalaya GL film "Open Endings" with Klea Pineda, Janella Salvador and OPM singer Leanne Mamonong from Leanne & Naara. Me too pero ako masc — knp ??? (@kylienicolep) July 19, 2025 —Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blackbeard ‘Cheap' Hypersonic Strike Missile Being Developed For U.S. Army (Updated)
The U.S. Army wants to see if a startup founded three years ago by former SpaceX employees can deliver a lower-cost ground-launched missile, dubbed Blackbeard, capable of engaging targets hundreds of miles away at hypersonic speeds. The weapon is being developed in parallel with new uncrewed launcher vehicles, but could also be fired from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers. With a viable Blackbeard design from the Castelion Corporation, the Army says it would gain a valuable new way to quickly strike targets, including time-sensitive ones on the move, and do so relatively cheaply. In its proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year, the Army is asking for $25 million to support work on the Blackbeard Ground Launch (Blackbeard GL) effort. The funding request is somewhat confusingly contained in a line item that has been used for elements of the Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapons (LRHW), as well as HIMARS Extended Range Demostration (HERD) work, in the past. 'As of June 2025, the program office is pursuing a Middle Tier of Acquisition for Rapid Prototyping (MTA-RP) pathway, with the goal of transitioning the system to Program Executive Office Missile and Space if successful and deemed cost-effective,' the Army's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request explains. 'To accelerate development and leverage innovation, the program office is pursuing acquisition under a Fixed-Firm-Price (FFP) sole-source Other Transaction Authority for Prototyping (OTAP) with Castelion Corporation, a non-traditional defense contractor.' Castelion was founded in 2022 by a trio of individuals who left space launch and services giant SpaceX to form their own company, which is focused on the development of high-speed, but also relatively low-cost and readily producible strike weapons. As of January, the company had raised more than $100 million in funding from private investors and had secured tens of millions more in U.S. military contracts, according to The Wall Street Journal. Those contracts are something we will come back to later on. Rapid development schedules and affordable, mass-produced defense hardware are the keys to deterring future wars. Castelion is here to build them. — Castelion (@CastelionCorp) October 5, 2023 'The mission of Blackbeard Ground Launch (GL) is to attack/neutralize/suppress/destroy using hypersonic missile delivered precision fires (seeker based) against time sensitive moving targets and hardened targets at a much-reduced cost per missile than currently exists in the Army inventory,' according to the Army's proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year. 'Blackbeard Ground Launch (GL) is an affordable, mass-produced hypersonic weapon designed for mid-range precision. The Army will leverage advancements in technology, materials, and cost-effective production methods to provide superior capabilities through fast, iterative design cycles, flexible hardware development, and modern manufacturing practices.' 'Blackbeard GL is not a replacement to [sic] the Long Range Hypersonic Weapons (LRHW) as it will not reach similar velocities nor range,' the line item also makes clear. 'The goal of Blackbeard GL is to deliver approximately 80% of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 capability at a significantly reduced cost.' PrSM is a short-range ballistic missile. The Army is in the process of fielding the baseline Increment 1 version now, which can be fired from both wheeled M142 HIMARS and tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher vehicles. The Increment 2 missile, which is in development now, features a new dual-mode seeker system that allows for the engagement of moving targets on land or at sea. Increment 3 is focused on new 'enhanced' payloads, which might include small precision-guided glide bombs or kamikaze drones. Increment 4 seeks to increase PrSM's range from 310 miles (500 kilometers) to 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), and could include the addition of a ramjet or some other form of air-breathing propulsion. At least in terms of range, a Blackbeard missile offering 80% percent of the capability of an Increment 4 PrSM could therefore be able to reach targets out to just under 500 miles (800 kilometers). Hypersonic speed is also typically defined as anything above Mach 5, which would then be the minimum peak velocity for the Blackbeard missile. It is important to note here that traditional ballistic missiles travel at very high speeds, with many types often exceeding the hypersonic threshold in the terminal phase of flight. However, the term 'hypersonic missile' generally refers to weapons designed for sustained hypersonic speed across a far shallower and even maneuvering trajectory. This can include missiles that release unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicles, like the aforementioned Dark Eagle, as well as air-breathing hypersonic cruise missiles. Exactly how Blackbeard is expected to be 'hypersonic' is unclear. What kind of unit cost the Army is eying for Blackbeard is unknown. PrSM Increment 4 is still very much in the conceptual stage, so there is no price point there to compare against. Per its latest budget request, the Army is now paying around $1.6 million for each Increment 1 PrSM, but is also spending some $5.35 million per Increment 2 missile with the new guidance package. TWZ has reached out to the Army and Castelion for more information. Castelion has already conducted numerous launches to date of test articles with different designs, which could reflect multiple concepts under development. They all look, at least in very broad strokes externally, like small ballistic missiles. Some of the company's experimental designs also look to feature tail sections that are at least heavily inspired by, if not lifted directly from Standard-series surface-to-air missiles still in service with the U.S. Navy and other navies globally. The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force have awarded Castelion contracts for work related to long-range strike weapon concepts in the past. The company has also said previously that it is aiming to have a more finalized design by 2027. The Air Force connection may also help explain the apparent existence of an air-launched design that the Army plans to use as the basis for the first phase of the Blackbeard project. Phase 1 'will deliver a prototype proof-of-concept, including a fixed-fin flight demonstration of the existing air-launched, extended-range Blackbeard design from a modified Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM) pod,' according to the Army's latest budget proposal. 'Following the demonstration, Blackbeard-GL Minimum Viable Product (MVP) prototypes will be fabricated alongside a custom Blackbeard-GL launcher pod, culminating in an MVP flight test launched from the M142 HIMARS Fire Control system.' All current munitions for the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS come in standardized MFOM pods. The pods can each hold six 227mm guided artillery rockets, a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missile, or two PrSMs. It's unclear how many Blackbeards the Army expects to fit inside the standard pod architecture. 'If Phase 1 is successful, this option will be exercised to develop and demonstrate the full capability of a production-representative weapon,' according to the Army's budget documents. 'This includes delivering 10 missiles integrated into the M142 HIMARS launcher platform and fire control system, as well as integrating a Flight Termination System (FTS).' A munition that would allow a HIMARS launcher to precisely engage stationary or moving targets 800 miles in any direction from where it is located, and do so very quickly and at relatively low cost, would be a major boost in capability. Even just with a hypersonic peak speed, Blackbeard would offer additional flexibility against pop-up threats and otherwise present additional challenges for enemy forces. As mentioned at the start of this story, the Army says that Blackbeard is also a direct companion to work on new uncrewed launcher vehicles capable of firing munitions from MFOM pods, as well as bespoke canisters. The service is currently looking toward a future that could include a potential family of so-called Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launchers (CAML) of various sizes. It has already tested an uncrewed derivative of the HIMARS, as well as a separate design from Raytheon. Castelion has been using launchers loaded on 10×10 Oshkosh MKR18 Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) trucks, as well as static launchers on the ground, during its testing. Another flight test in the books – this time @Spaceport_NM. Our second flight in the past 30 best way to stay ahead of your adversary in a prolonged competition is to have faster learning cycles than they do. — Castelion (@CastelionCorp) February 19, 2025 Welcoming our new LSVR MKR18 to El Segundo this week. We'll be making upgrades to convert this vehicle into a launcher system for our upcoming flight tests – and it's a fun ride. — Castelion (@CastelionCorp) April 10, 2024 In general, uncrewed launchers would help the service expand its overall rocket artillery and ballistic missile launch capacity without the need for significantly larger numbers of personnel. The launchers could also be employed with less risk to human operators, even when pushed further forward. This could be a particularly potent combination when paired with Blackbeard's range and other capabilities. Beyond the operational capabilities it might offer, Blackbeard represents a steadily growing U.S. military-wide interest in lower-cost precision munitions that are also relatively easy to produce, as well as leveraging non-traditional defense contractors to develop and build them. This is widely seen as vital for bolstering stockpiles in an economically viable way ahead of a major contingency, such as a large-scale conflict in the Pacific against China, and keeping adequate supplies of those weapons flowing in the event of a drawn-out fight. On top of all this, hypersonic weapons have historically been notoriously complex and expensive, which in turn limits their potential impact in future operations. At the same time, the U.S. military has consistently touted the importance of hypersonic capabilities to success in future conflicts, especially against global competitors like China. 'I think the types of sensing capability that quantum sensing is going to deliver, the cross domain sensing opportunities from space to air, for example,' and 'the sophistication of sensor fusion and track using AI [artificial intelligence] and other techniques – I don't think we're going to be able to hide in any operational sense, in a realistic way,' Rob McHenry, deputy director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), warned during an online talk hosted by the Air and Space Forces Association's (AFA) Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies last week. McHenry had also explicitly posited whether the 'stealth era' might be coming to an end. 'And so what are the implications of that? You know, if you look historically, there are things like using speed and maneuverability,' he added. The U.S. military is also trying to improve its contracting processes to manage risks differently to encourage innovation while avoiding sinking significant resources into efforts that ultimately don't provide useful results. The 'phased approach provides the Army with a clear 'off-ramp' should the technology prove immature, ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,' the line item for Blackbeard in the service's latest budget request makes clear. Whether the Blackbeard missile project delivers on its promise or not, it could serve as a model for future Army munition development efforts. Update: 7/1/2025 – In response to our queries, Castelion has now told TWZ that the designs seen in the imagery it has released to date show 'arerepresentative of the low-cost internally developed test vehicles we use to enable rapid subsystem design iteration and to ground our performance models in real-world test data.' 'Castelion's approach to development focuses on getting into hardware-in-the-loop and flight testing early in development to support learning cycles across design, production, and test,' the company added. 'As such, flight vehicles shown on social media are not representative nor intended to be representative of our final weapon systems.' Contact the author: joe@
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Castelion raises $350M Series B to scale hypersonic missile business
Hypersonic weapons startup Castelion has raised a $350 million Series B led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Altimeter Capital, according to sources and documents viewed by TechCrunch. The round, which values the company in the billions, is anticipated to close in a matter of weeks. The new round comes on the heels of $100 million in Series A funding that closed in January. That round was composed of about $70 million in equity and $30 million of debt. Lightspeed also led that round. Castelion declined to comment. It is notoriously difficult for non-traditional players to break into the sizable government defense market, but Castelion has made notable strides since it emerged from stealth in late 2023. The company, which was founded by former SpaceX executives, wants to transform the production of hypersonic missile systems, a critical national security technology. Despite the U.S. Department of Defense's massive budget, military leaders are sounding the alarm on China's ability to rapidly develop and field hypersonics. These weapons travel above Mach 5 — and China's capabilities are starting to outpace the United States. Castelion is proposing a solution. The business takes a similar approach to SpaceX: build quickly, test frequently, and vertically integrate to drive down costs. It has already won grants and awards from a suite of DoD offices, including the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Naval Air System Command. The company tested its hypersonic vehicle for the first time in the Mojave Desert in March as it looks to prove to the government that it can field low-cost hypersonic missiles at scale. Castelion appeared in the U.S. Army's fiscal year 2026 budget request published in June. In the budget, the military branch has requested $25 million under an initiative called Project HX3 to support the development and testing of an 'affordable, mass-produced hypersonic weapon' called Blackbeard Ground Launch (GL). As the document explains, Blackbeard GL will have around 80% of the capability of a long-range hypersonic weapon variant currently being developed by aerospace primes. But through the contract, the Army is saying it is willing to trade a little bit of speed and range for a lower-cost product. The forthcoming contract, which is essentially a done deal once President Trump signs the budget into law, has two phases: the first will see Castelion deliver a 'prototype proof-of-concept' that it will demonstrate in early 2026. If that is successful, the second phase will include the delivery of 10 prototype missiles in 2027 for additional testing using a standard launcher platform called High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Blackbeard is also being designed to be compatible with a new launcher system that will have autonomous capabilities. All of Castelion's previous wins with the DoD are a pittance compared to the possibilities afforded by the lucrative hypersonic-weapons market. If the Army field testing goes well, Castelion could ink a larger contract and begin delivering Blackbeard missiles in early 2028. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman may want to watch their backs. Sign in to access your portfolio
Bangkok Post
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
Telling our truth
Pride in Action 2025 unfolded last week at Lido Connect Hall 2 in Siam Square, gathering prominent voices across various fields to empower and celebrate the LGBTI community under the theme "Together Now, Together Always". From 3pm to early evening, thought leaders, public officials and creatives came together to discuss LGBTI rights, visibility and cultural narratives -- culminating in one of the most emotionally resonant panels of the day. Titled "LGBTI Stories In Culture", the final panel explored how culture and media shape and reflect the LGBTI experience. Two celebrated voices took the stage: Sira Siravitch Kamonworawut, better known as Thailand's iconic Madonna impersonator, drag performer, actor and online personality; and Nophasit Thiengtham, vice-president and secretary-general of the Association for the Promotion of Boys and Girls Content, a key figure in the Thai BL/GL media boom. Their conversation, rich in both lived experience and industry insight, painted a complex yet hopeful picture of where Thailand's LGBTI movement stands today -- and where it could go next. "We have come a long, long way, and are really proud of Thailand," Nophasit said as he opened his reflections on this year's movement. "We finally reached this moment. The amount of people who participated at last year's Pride Parade was only half of the people this year, and not only that, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise same-sex marriage." He smiled, the weight of progress and years of advocacy behind his words. "I'm not going to go over it, but we are very happy about it, and we are getting there -- going slowly, but getting there. So we are not just sitting here doing nothing. The government's also trying to help us, and we are all waiting and ready to see what's coming next." For Sira, the energy this year felt different -- and deeper. "We saw a significant change in this year's celebration and the recognition of Pride Month, because the equality marriage bill that passed serves as the wind beneath the wings and makes it more meaningful, more powerful for the movement. It became the inspiration for the community to actually make things happen and progress in a very positive direction." That sense of direction is now being propelled by the explosion of LGBTI content in Thai media -- especially in the form of BL (Boys' Love) and GL (Girls' Love) series, which have gained widespread attention both domestically and internationally. Nophasit, whose organisation promotes and supports these creative sectors, offered a pragmatic overview of this cultural shift. "Nowadays, the BL and GL series are doing extremely well nationally, and internationally. From last year, we increased by about 17% of the income from this industry, which hopefully this year will reach close to 4 billion baht," he noted. "And there are so many changes in terms of content and script writing. In the past, if you were watching Thai drama on the major channels, we always had LGBTI characters -- but often they were based on stereotypes. You know, they were there to be funny, to tone down the seriousness of the drama, and had no character arc. About 60% of Thai dramas were like that." But times are changing. "In today's series, especially in the Boys' Love format, each character is created to have a background and not be one-dimensional. There are stories created for them, and we follow their lives -- through childhood, school, university and even into working life. And during that time, we see their feelings and their struggles, searching for what their true gender or identity really is." For Sira, this broader, more nuanced representation has a ripple effect -- especially within families. "People understand us, the LGBTI community, more than before," she said thoughtfully. "Understanding comes in many dimensions, but the most important dimension is actually the family -- the unit of society. This acceptance of more LGBTI identities in social media, in culture, has paved the way and made it easier for families to understand. In my generation, some of my friends had to flee to live abroad, because they could not talk to their family. "I get asked all the time, how did I tell or come out of the closet with family members? In the past, kids were forced to explain themselves to their parents. But now with Y series, sometimes parents can find answers to those questions they didn't understand -- without having to confront their children. So now it's easier. So thanks to the more acceptance and more identities of LGBTI people being portrayed in media." Of course, Sira was quick to clarify that while the media has power, it's still fiction. "Much like any other gender depicted in the media, there's no accuracy about it. Because they are fiction, made-up stories. Even though the fiction we see in the media and the reality might be different, there's an important message -- that love is gender-free. So there is hope for all of us." The discussion also touched on an ongoing global debate. Should only queer actors portray queer characters? Nophasit's stance was clear. "We're talking about acting here. When we cast actors and actresses, we do not ask them what gender they are. We just give them a sheet of paper with the script. Then, once they're in front of the directors and producers, they act according to what they believe in that script. So this is acting. I'm not saying, oh, if you're straight, you can't play this role. Or that you have to be gay to be able to play this role. No, that would be discrimination." As a drag performer, Sira also addressed changing perceptions of drag in Thai culture. "Not only love is gender free -- art is also gender free," she said. "Our approach to drag performances -- the stories that we come up with -- the key message is to present the art. And we become the inspiration for the new generation. Now even some straight actors have told me they want to try to dress like a drag sometimes. And you know, I would love to show them how hard it can be," she added with a laugh. Asked about their hopes for future representation, both speakers had clear visions. "Right now, many series are being produced regarding the new law to include that in the series as well," Nophasit said. "Thailand now has the same-sex marriage law. We try to tie that information in, as well as other soft power elements. So this will be a good way to educate fan clubs and viewers. I really want Thailand to be a hub for BL and GL content. The market is growing tremendously." Sira, meanwhile, turned her gaze outward. "I would love to see more Thai drags on the world stage, because we have potential. Our potential is not less than other countries when it comes to the talent of drags in Thailand." Before the panel wrapped, the two left messages for the younger generation. "It's time to be yourself," said Nophasit. "Now Thailand is opening up, so you have the right to be yourself. From what I saw at the parade this year, all the youngsters came out and really enjoyed themselves. They dressed up, they showed their talents. You don't need to hide this any more -- come up and show yourself. As long as you are a good person, I'm sure the country, the government, all of us, will support every path you take." And for Sira, the next step is simple -- but vital. "With the entertainment field -- with the BL and GL series -- I just hope more people locally and abroad will continue to accept and support us, the Thai series. Thailand has a very unique culture, and the way the script is written is really different from other countries. They are subtle and light-hearted. So please embrace us. And I hope we can get more funding from the government for the BL and GL industries."
