Anduril's Barracuda-500: A Cheaper, Longer-Range Option for Ukraine's Strike Needs
Anduril's Barracuda-500 missile, with its extended range and larger warhead, is being considered as an alternative to the Tomahawk for potential supply to Ukraine. This comes as the US explores options to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles to target Russian infrastructure.
The Barracuda-500 stands out among its siblings, the Barracuda-100 and Barracuda-250, with a strike range of 800 km and a 45-kg warhead. This makes it a viable option for striking targets deep within Russian territory, such as oil refineries, military facilities, and logistics nodes. Anduril claims the unit production cost could be around $200,000, significantly cheaper than typical cruise missiles.
The Barracuda missile is designed for affordability and quick mass production. It can dynamically coordinate its route, interact with other systems, perform deception maneuvers, and operate autonomously. Anduril, valued at $32 billion, is already supplying systems to Ukraine, including drones for reconnaissance and potential strikes. Ukraine is particularly interested in the Barracuda-500 variant, which can be launched from both air and ground platforms and has a range of up to 939 km.
The Barracuda-500, with its extended range and larger payload, could significantly enhance Ukraine's strike capabilities. If supplied, it could help degrade Russian production capacity, pressure the Russian economy, and weaken Russia economically. The US government is currently considering this option as part of its support for Ukraine.
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