Anduril Industries has successfully completed a series of flight tests of the Barracuda-100M autonomous aircraft as part of the U.S. Army's High-speed Maneuverable Missiles (HSMM) program. The tests took place in May 2025 and demonstrated the effectiveness of both hardware and software upgrades, including a new low-cost inertial navigation unit and an independent on-board computer.
The Barracuda-100M is a high—speed autonomous rocket with subsonic and transonic flight modes, reaching speeds of more than 500 knots (about 926 km/h) with the ability to perform complex maneuvers with high overload exceeding 10G. The missile demonstrates the ability to launch autonomously, maneuver, and repeatedly aim at targets at the end of the trajectory. For guidance, an active PTAS system with a long-wave infrared camera is used, which makes it possible to independently detect and track priority targets, including mobile rocket launchers and electronic warfare systems.
The propulsion system combines a rocket engine and a turbojet engine, which provides a range of about 80 km, ten times higher than analogues of the AGM-114 Hellfire type. The modular design allows for the use of various warheads and sensors, turning the Barracuda-100M into a versatile strike and reconnaissance platform.
It is planned that ground tests of the missile will take place at the end of 2025, followed by demonstrations for military officials in 2026. The Barracuda-100M is positioned as an affordable, scalable and high-tech solution for fast and accurate target acquisition at tactical depth.
No comments:
Post a Comment