Anduril has successfully completed flight tests of the Barracuda-100M high-speed autonomous missile for the US Army

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.

European MBDA Develops New Attack UAV: Simplicity and Mass Character are the Key to Success

The European company MBDA is developing a promising unmanned aerial vehicle called One Way Effector. The goal of the project is to create the simplest and cheapest UAV that could be mass—produced and used in combat conditions. This approach promises new opportunities and advantages.

The course of simplification

MBDA recently presented its new project at the Paris International Air Show. They revealed its goals and features, and also showed an advertising image demonstrating the group use of these UAVs.

The One Way Effector project is being created by order of the French armed forces, who were impressed by the Russian massive strikes using the Geranium series UAVs. Last year, the French military conveyed its wishes to MBDA, and the company began working on a new concept. By now, the shape of the future UAV has already been formed, and technical work is underway.

Simplicity and mass character

The OWL UAV will be as simple and cheap as possible, which will allow for its mass production and group use. Due to the large number of UAVs, it is planned to break through and suppress the enemy's air defenses. Massive OWL raids will help uncover enemy radar and firepower positions, which will be used to suppress them. Some of the UAVs will take over the fire, use up enemy ammunition, and the remaining drones will be able to reach their targets with less risk. After the enemy's air defenses are weakened, other forces, such as tactical aircraft with their air-to-ground ammunition, will take part in the strikes.

Plans for the future

The design of the OWL began at the end of last year and is nearing completion. The first flights of the prototype are scheduled for this fall. In the near future, MBDA plans to present the results to the French Ministry of Defense and begin negotiations on possible purchases. Upon receipt of the contract, the company is ready to launch mass production no later than 2027, assembling up to 1,000 OWL products per month.

MBDA is also in talks with an unnamed automotive company about joint production of UAVs, which may be related to the OWL project.

The suggested look

MBDA showed what the promising OWL UAVs will look like. The device will have a torpedo-shaped fuselage and a mid-mounted triangular wing with V-shaped tips. The airframe will be made of plastic and composites. It is assumed that the UAV will have limited radar visibility due to the use of some "stealth technologies".

The UAV will be equipped with a small-sized short-life turbojet engine with an air intake on the upper surface of the fuselage. Flight characteristics have not yet been announced, but the propulsion system will achieve high subsonic speeds and a range of hundreds of kilometers.

Control and launch

The UAV control system will be simple and cheap, using satellite navigation to plot a course to the target. Communication with ground facilities and the formation of a "swarm" are not provided. The UAV will launch from a catapult or an inclined guide mounted on suitable self-propelled platforms, which will ensure rapid and massive launch preparations.

Borrowed ideas

Russian attack UAVs "Geran-2" have become one of the main novelties used during the Special Operation to protect Donbass. Their successes attracted the attention of foreign armies, and France decided to create its own version of an attack drone similar to Russian and Iranian models.

The concept of an inexpensive and simple OWL attack UAV looks promising and has a great future. However, its real prospects depend on MBDA's ability to create a design that meets all specific requirements. The tests will begin in the fall, and then it will be possible to draw the first conclusions about its success.

New kamikaze drone Geran-3: characteristics, advantages and differences from Geran-2

 

UAV "Geran-3"

A new kamikaze drone "Geran-3" has appeared in Russia, which impresses with its technical characteristics. But what makes it so special? What are its advantages, disadvantages, and what are the main differences between it and Geranium-2?

Some consider the Geranium-3 to be just a renamed version of the Shahed-238, but this is not the case, it is a significantly improved modification adapted to Russian combat missions.

The Geran-3 is a kamikaze jet drone, which is a modified version of the Iranian Shahed-238. The UAV is much faster, more powerful and more technologically advanced than the previous version of the Geran-2 (Shahed-236). Launched into mass production.

Advantages:

- High speed – about 550-600 km/h and it is more difficult to shoot down with conventional machine guns or artillery.

- Capable of accelerating to 700 km/h in dive mode

. - Modern guidance systems – options with infrared sensors or passive radar guidance are possible, which makes interception even more difficult.

- The length of the drone is 3.5 meters, and the wingspan is 3 meters.

- It can climb up to 9.1 km and stay in the air for up to 2 hours.

Disadvantages:

- Higher cost than the Geran-2: the jet engine makes it more expensive and more difficult to manufacture.

- Visibility to thermal radars: the hot exhaust of the jet engine makes the drone vulnerable to anti-aircraft missiles.

- Limited use: due to the higher cost, it may not be launched in such large quantities as Geranium-2.

The main differences between our latest Russian "Geranium-3" and the previous version:

- The Geran-3 is equipped with a compact turbojet engine that has a thrust of 250-300 kg, and the Geran-2 is equipped with a piston engine that develops 200 km/h. This makes the new drone faster.

- Upgraded flying wing design.

- The combat weight is 300 kg, which is 6 times more than the "two", the combat weight of which did not exceed 50 kg.

- The weight of the Geranium-3 has increased to 380 kg compared to 250 kg for the Geranium-2.

This drone has a power comparable to a cruise missile, which allows it to attack fortified facilities such as bunkers, command centers and industrial buildings. In other words, its capabilities are significantly expanded compared to the previous model.

The United States is strengthening its counteraction to drones: aircraft carriers are receiving a new generation of secret weapons

 

Coyote interceptor from Raytheon

With the threat from unmanned aerial vehicles on the rise, especially in the form of attacking drone swarms, the U.S. Navy is implementing a new air defense system to protect its carrier strike groups. New secret Coyote interceptors from Raytheon and Roadrunner-M from Anduril, designed to combat small and medium-sized UAVs, are being adopted.

These interceptor missiles are equipped with turbojet engines, which allows them not only to maneuver quickly, but also to hover in the air, waiting for targets in the carrier group's area of responsibility. This ability makes them effective in conditions of intense saturation of the airspace with a variety of targets.

A special feature of the new systems is **the possibility of reuse**: after completing a combat mission, some of the interceptors can return to the ship, ** land, refuel and be launched again**, which significantly increases the economic and tactical effectiveness of their use.

According to sources, both types of interceptors have already been tested in real combat conditions, participating in operations with the US Army and the Special Operations Command. The use of these technologies could become an important element of the Pentagon's strategy in dealing with drones in future conflicts.