Barracuda 100M missile delivers tenfold Hellfire range for future US Army operations.

According to information published by Anduril Industries via its official X account on July 17, 2025, the company has completed a new series of flight tests for its Barracuda-100M autonomous air vehicle, conducted in May 2025 under the U.S. Army’s High-Speed Maneuverable Missile (HSMM) program.
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The Barracuda-100M is positioned as a cost-effective strike solution offering ten times the range of the Hellfire missile while maintaining similar size and production costs (Picture source: Anduril)

These tests confirmed the platform’s performance at high speeds and under extreme maneuver conditions, advancing its role in the development of a scalable, affordable precision strike system. The Barracuda-100M is equipped with the Precision Target Acquisition Seeker (PTAS) payload, which uses a Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) camera for passive, autonomous tracking of targets based on pre-identified imagery. This payload is integrated with Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software, enabling rapid adaptation to changing mission requirements within a modular system architecture.

Part of Anduril’s Barracuda family of air-breathing Autonomous Air Vehicles (AAVs), the Barracuda-100M is a compact cruise missile designed for mass production and adaptable deployment. With a range exceeding 120 nautical miles and a payload capacity of approximately 40 pounds, it can carry kinetic warheads or other mission-specific payloads. The missile is compatible with rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval platforms, providing operational flexibility across various domains. Its modular open systems architecture allows for quick integration of commercial technologies, while software-defined upgradeability supports continuous mission optimization and collaborative autonomous operations.

Since 2023, Anduril has worked closely with the U.S. Army's DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), progressing from design evaluations to a comprehensive testing campaign that spanned 2024. This included wind tunnel tests, environmental assessments, captive carriage flights, glide tests, and engine trials. Powered flight tests completed in May 2025 led to further enhancements, including the integration of a low-cost navigation system, an independent mission computer, and production-oriented design optimizations. The Barracuda-100M met all defined objectives, demonstrating autonomous launch, complex mission execution, and precise terminal guidance strikes, while achieving high-G maneuvers at speeds above 500 knots.

The Barracuda-100M is positioned as a cost-effective strike solution offering ten times the range of the Hellfire missile while maintaining similar size and production costs. Its modular design supports a range of payloads and sensors, enabling launch from air, land, and sea platforms, enhancing its versatility for multi-domain operations. Ground-launch demonstrations are scheduled for late 2025 to validate capabilities for mobile ground forces, with the HSMM program set to conclude with a live-fire demonstration at a U.S. government test site in 2026.

The Barracuda-100M represents a significant step in the U.S. Army’s modernization efforts, combining autonomy, extended range, and modular adaptability for future combat scenarios. With live-fire testing planned, the system is positioned to enhance the precision strike capabilities of U.S. forces across multiple operational domains.