Barracuda 500M Cruise Missile

Full Specifications

Barracuda 500M Cruise Missile: Affordable Long-Range Strike

The Barracuda 500M represents a new generation of affordable, long-range precision munitions developed to address evolving threats in contested environments. As part of Anduril Industries’ Barracuda family of Autonomous Air Vehicles (AAVs), the 500M variant functions as a turbojet-powered cruise missile optimized for high-volume production and flexible deployment. It bridges the gap between low-cost attritable systems and high-end standoff weapons, enabling U.S. forces to conduct massed strikes against land and maritime targets while maintaining operational tempo in high-threat scenarios.

Manufacturer

Anduril Industries, a U.S.-based defense technology company headquartered in California, designs and produces the Barracuda 500M. The system emphasizes software-defined autonomy, modular construction, and rapid digital manufacturing to achieve low unit costs and scalable output. It has secured major U.S. Department of Defense contracts, including production agreements for thousands of units for the U.S. Army.

Speed and Range

The Barracuda 500M achieves a range exceeding 500 nautical miles (approximately 930 km) with cruise speeds in the 180–500 knots range (high subsonic, around Mach 0.74). Powered by a turbojet engine following booster-assisted launch, it supports extended loiter times and adaptable flight profiles for complex missions.

Cost/Price

Unit costs are reported around $200,000–$216,000, significantly lower than legacy cruise missiles like the Tomahawk. This affordability supports mass employment strategies and high-volume salvo attacks.

The missile features modular payloads, resilient navigation, and integration with autonomous systems for collaborative operations, including strike, jamming, or decoy roles. It is compatible with air, ground, and potentially naval launch platforms, including containerized systems holding multiple rounds.