Anduril’s Barracuda-100M autonomous air vehicle (AAV) has successfully completed another round of flight tests for the U.S. Army, marking a major step forward in the High-Speed Maneuverable Missile (HSMM) program.
The tests, conducted in May 2025, demonstrated the missile’s ability to perform complex maneuvers and execute autonomous strikes, achieving speeds in excess of 500 knots.
According to Anduril, the flights validated software and hardware updates designed to improve performance and manufacturability.
“The Barracuda-100M met or exceeded all vehicle performance criteria, including high-G maneuvers and autonomous mission execution,” the company said in a statement.
The HSMM program, led by the U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), aims to develop a modular and affordable testbed for the Army’s Precision Target Acquisition Seeker (PTAS) payload. The PTAS system, designed by government developers, uses long-wave infrared (LWIR) cameras and video feedback to autonomously track and strike pre-identified targets.
As noted by Anduril, “Barracuda-100M packs high performance into a small, modular form factor to unlock new concepts of operation for tactical forces.”
Working closely with AvMC’s Technology Development Directorate (TDD-M), Anduril began the Barracuda-100M development process in 2023 with trade studies and design reviews. By 2024, the company had completed full-scale transonic wind tunnel testing, environmental validation, captive carriage flights, glide tests, and engine trials. Within two years, the system transitioned from concept to powered flight, an achievement considered unusually fast in defense acquisition timelines.
The Barracuda-100M is designed for high-volume, affordable production and offers ten times the range of the similarly sized Hellfire missile at a comparable price point, Anduril says. Its modular design allows integration with various payloads and sensors, supporting diverse missions.
Later this year, Anduril plans to conduct a series of ground-launch demonstrations to showcase the Barracuda’s multi-domain launch capabilities, including operations from fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, airlift platforms, and mobile ground units. The program is expected to culminate in a live-fire demonstration at a U.S. government test range in 2026.
The Barracuda-100M is powered by Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software platform, enabling collaborative autonomous behaviors that can be rapidly updated to address evolving mission needs.
Anduril describes the system as “purpose-built to bring mass to the fight,” positioning it as a critical tool for future high-intensity conflicts.
