Anduril has unveiled BARRACUDA, a new family of expendable, scalable, highly modular 'autonomous aerial vehicles' that are already undergoing flight tests.

The company is focusing mainly on 'M' versions, configured as low-cost 'air-breathing' precision munitions that could be launched from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, as well as from maritime and land platforms. BARRACUDA is one of the projects that the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit is examining as part of its Enterprise Test Vehicle, reflecting the growing interest of the US AF in cruise missiles and other types of stand-off munitions that are cheaper and more easily produced.

The BARRACUDA family currently consists of three different weapon systems: BARRACUDA-100, BARRACUDA-250 and BARRACUDA-500. An 'M' configuration is available for each of them. The aerodynamic formula of the 3 versions is essentially identical, with a pair of retractable wings in the centre and folding tail fins at the rear. Air intakes integrated into the airframe feed a small turbojet, capable of delivering a top speed of up to just over Mach 0.7. The BARRACUDA family was designed with the aim of using widely available commercially derived components (COTS) to reduce costs and ensure large production volumes.

The BARRACUDA-100, the smallest and shortest-range version, has a payload capacity of 35 lbs (15.8 kg) and an expected maximum range of 60 and 85 nautical miles, launched from land and air respectively. The BARRACUDA-250 has the same payload as the BARRACUDA-100, but with a longer range - up to 150 and 200 nautical miles (land and air, respectively). The BARRACUDA-500 has a significantly higher payload capacity of up to 100 pounds (45 kg), and is currently only intended to be launched from the air (range over 500 nautical miles).

In addition to use on combat aircraft, Anduril claims that this version could be suitable for use from cargo aircraft through a palletised launch method, the reference being to the RAPID DRAGON system for C-130s and C-17s. As already mentioned, the BARRACUDA is one of four projects that the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has selected to participate in its Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV). The DIU is conducting this programme in collaboration with the USAF, with the aim of developing a new low-cost cruise missile.

The USAF has long been engaged in the search for low-cost solutions to make future war efforts more sustainable, particularly in view of a large-scale conflict with China in the Asia-Pacific theatre.

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