| Barracuda-M | |
|---|---|
 Barracuda-M 500 | |
| Type | Subsonic land-attack cruise missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024-present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Anduril Industries |
| Developed from | Barracuda AAV |
| Unit cost | < USD$216,000 |
| Variants | Barracuda-100 Barracuda-250 Barracuda-500 |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | Conventional warhead |
| Warhead weight | up to 100lb |
Operational range | Barracuda-100 – 120 nmi (140 mi; 220 km) Barracuda-250 – 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) Barracuda-500 – 500 nmi (580 mi; 930 km) |
| Maximum speed | Subsonic; ~Mach 0.74 about 567.7 mph (493.3 kn; 913.6 km/h) |
Launch platform | AH-64 Apache AH-1Z Viper F-35A/B/C Strategic bombers F-15E/EX F/A-18E/F F-16 Ground-launched Ship-launched Rapid Dragon |
Barracuda-M is a medium-range turbojet-powered cruise missile developed by American defence company Anduril Industries. [1] Barracuda-M is the missile variant of the Barracuda AAV loitering munition. [1] Anduril intends to pitch Barracuda to the United States Armed Forces as a low-cost 'hyper-scale production' alternative to comparable systems, such as AGM-158C LRASM. [2]
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Barracuda-M is designed to be launched from a plethora of systems, including in-service fighter and multirole aircraft; such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, as well as strategic bombers and various helicopters. [3] The missile is also capable of being launched from Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft via the Rapid Dragon missile system. [4]
The price per unit of Barracuda is initially reported to be less than $200,000; a tenth of the cost of a Tomahawk missile. [5] [6] However, citing the latest production agreement on Barracuda-500 between Taiwan's NCSIST and Anduril, it should be somewhere near $216,000. [7]
Barracuda is said by Anduril to require 50% less time to produce, use 95% fewer tools, and 50% less parts. [8]
