Anduril's boss Palmer Luckey has used an anime-inspired video to introduce a presumably cheaper and possibly easier to mass produce cruise missile, known as Barracuda-M.
See the funky new Anduril video here and above.
More details are dated September 12, 2024, and at Anduril's Website https://www.anduril.com/article/anduril-unveils-barracuda/
It might be early days yet, perhaps years until the slow moving US
Defense acquisitions system accepts Anduril's Barracuda-M concept.
Also existing US and European cruise missile players might make similar cheaper, faster to produce claims - leading to multi-year run-offs (aka beauty contests).
Although heightened demand around the war in Ukraine and increasingly in Russian territory might accelerate the acquisitions process.
Lol, this is also a YouTube ad.. I keep seeing it when I check my Ukraine feeds (Operator Starsky, Suchomimus)
ReplyDeleteHi Shawn
ReplyDeleteLuckey's Lol reminds me of the ASTRO BOY Japanese animation (Anime) that I watched on TV as a kid in the 1960s's. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Boy#Anime
The opening theme Anime video has been updated several times since then. Here's the 1980 version https://youtu.be/mm43LjWBkWM?si=y2an-EGk_smV-Hp1
Catchy Aye?! Pete
Now let's see if they come up for an anime ad for this bad boy:
ReplyDelete"Lockheed's XR variant of the JASSM family of missiles is stretched to
accommodate more fuel, giving it a range that should approach or exceed
that of the Tomahawk."
Source:
https://www.twz.com/air/everything-we-just-learned-about-the-supersized-agm-158-xr-stealth-cruise-missile
Hi Anonymous at 9/17/2024 12:17 PM
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the marketing teams of Lockheed Martin and Boeing have Anime videos in the works to counter the Anduril lead. Cheers Pete
Locksmart YT: https://youtu.be/Zi-sKL3KilA?si=fCw3UTmqPB9ib5xl
ReplyDeleteSo the incumbents: Raytheon with its Tomahawk; LockMart with its XR variant of the JASSM; and ever longer range Storm Shadow/SCALP people will all be making claims of faster, cheaper production.
ReplyDeleteCan't let Anduril become a cruise missile competitor unless there are Made in Ukraine clones of the Anduril Barracuda which may ruffle less Russian feathers if used in Russia.
Overall I think naming China as the reason for mass producing Western cruise missiles is a diversion from the main game against Russia.