Since being chosen for the ETV effort, Anduril has refined the Barracuda-500’s design, leading to a successful flight test within seven months. The test demonstrated the aircraft’s modular architecture and Anduril’s capability to rapidly develop and deploy advanced technology.
In the next phase, Anduril will showcase Barracuda-500’s autonomous teaming abilities, further proving its adaptability and production readiness. The system’s design aligns with ETV’s key priorities, including autonomy, affordability, and rapid deployment.
The Barracuda-500 was rigorously tested in September 2024, with a flight trial conducted in partnership with the Air Force Armament Directorate and DIU. The test included pre-mission planning, vertical launch from a simulated palletised deployment system, autonomous flight for over 30 minutes, and precision target acquisition using GPS and AI-based guidance.
Further testing later this year will focus on the aircraft’s ability to operate collaboratively in contested environments. This will involve simultaneous launches of multiple Barracuda-500 units, in-flight communications between systems, and demonstrations of advanced autonomous behaviours enabled by Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software.
Anduril also plans to validate the manufacturability and cost-effectiveness of the Barracuda-500, demonstrating how its simple design, minimal tooling, and reliance on commercial components support large-scale production. Several prototype units will be produced in the coming months, refining processes for full-scale manufacturing by 2026.
Designed with modularity in mind, the Barracuda-500 adheres to the Weapon Open System Architecture (WOSA) standards, allowing for rapid integration of new hardware and software. This flexibility ensures the platform can evolve to meet changing mission requirements.
