Anduril Industries’ Barracuda-100M autonomous air vehicle (AAV) has completed a series of crucial flight tests as part of the High-Speed Maneuverable Missile (HSMM) program for the US Army’s DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC).

The flight tests conducted in May 2025 represent a significant milestone in the HSMM program.

These tests confirmed the platform’s performance at high speeds and under extreme maneuver conditions, advancing its role in the HSMM program, which aims to create a high-speed, maneuverable, and affordable precision strike system.

The Barracuda-100M is equipped with a Precision Target Acquisition Seeker (PTAS) payload, developed to enable passive, autonomous tracking of identified targets without human intervention.

It uses video feedback to correlate and seek a previously identified target image using a Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) camera within the seeker. This payload is integrated with Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software, enabling mid-flight rapid maneuvering to changing mission requirements.

“Anduril has integrated the PTAS payload autonomy into its Lattice for Mission Autonomy suite, demonstrating how Anduril’s commitment to modular hardware and software enables rapid integration of various payloads and mission systems for unique customer mission sets,” Anduril Industries said in a statement.

Barracuda-100M is an affordable and compact cruise missile designed for mass production, and it is a part of Anduril’s Barracuda family of air-breathing Autonomous Air Vehicles (AAVs).

Barracuda-100M’s Multiple Flight Tests

Working in close partnership with the AvMC Technology Development Directorate (TDD-M), Anduril completed a series of HSMM trade studies and design reviews for the Barracuda-100 M in 2023.

In 2024, Anduril completed major testing milestones, including full-scale transonic wind tunnel testing, environmental testing, captive carriage flights, glide test, and engine testing, all culminating in multiple powered flights of the Barracuda-100M for the HSMM program.

This achievement demonstrated an impressive concept to powered flight in under two years, which also included an aggressive 12-month test campaign.

In May 2025, Anduril executed several additional powered flights of Barracuda-100M, aimed at further expanding and verifying the vehicle’s capabilities and performance.

These flights included both software and hardware updates to significantly improve the performance and manufacturability of the platform, including the integration of an Anduril-developed low-cost navigator, an independent mission computer, and several design improvements for enhanced manufacturability.

In these tests, Anduril exceeded all outlined test objectives, including autonomous launch, mission execution, and multiple terminal guidance strikes.

“Barracuda-100M met or exceeded all vehicle performance criteria, including high-G maneuvers and speeds of more than 500 knots (about 575 mph), demonstrating how the system packs high performance into a small, modular form factor to unlock new concepts of operation for tactical forces,” Anduril Industries said in the statement.

“The flight tests serve as an important milestone towards future operational employment of Barracuda-100M,” it added.

Notably, Barracuda-100M provides 10 times the range of the comparably-sized Hellfire missile at a similar price point.

The speed of 575 mph, the ability to perform sharp maneuvers, a payload capacity of 35-40 pounds, and a range of about 100 miles make Barracuda-100M a deadly, smart cruise missile. It delivers a capability that will be critical for conflicts requiring extended standoff strike capabilities.

The Air And Ground Launched Variants

These tests were of the air-launched variant.

However, in the coming months, Anduril will conduct a series of ground-launch demonstrations of the Barracuda-100M for the HSMM program to demonstrate its multi-domain launch capabilities.

This will unlock new capabilities for mobile ground forces by equipping them with a highly maneuverable, mass-producible, extended-range, and high-speed direct attack munition.

Furthermore, the missile can be adapted to various platforms, payloads, and mission requirements.

“Like all Barracuda variants, Barracuda-100M is highly modular and can be configured with a wide range of payloads and sensors to support a wide variety of missions.”

“Barracuda-100M can be launched from the ground or air and is compatible with existing external rails of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, tail launches from airlift aircraft, and multiple ground-launch modalities, providing theater commanders with a variety of employment options to strike targets at extended ranges,” the statement added.

Anduril describes the system as “purpose-built to bring mass to the fight,” positioning it as a critical tool for future high-intensity conflicts.

Ultimately, the HSMM program will culminate in a live-fire demonstration at a government test range next year.