Anduril teams up with the Polish government to start work on an all-new cruise missile to combat Russian threats

Anduril and Poland's PGZ are preparing local production of the new Barracuda cruise missile Anduril displayed a full-scale Barracuda mock-up during Poland's major defense exhibition Production details remain unsettled as Poland and Anduril continue negotiations Anduril has partnered with Poland's st

<![CDATA[ <article> <ul><li><strong>Anduril and Poland's PGZ are preparing local production of the new Barracuda cruise missile</strong></li><li><strong>Anduril displayed a full-scale Barracuda mock-up during Poland's major defense exhibition</strong></li><li><strong>Production details remain unsettled as Poland and Anduril continue negotiations</strong></li></ul><p>Anduril has partnered with Poland's state-owned conglomerate PGZ to jointly produce a new cruise missile system.</p><p>Dubbed Barracuda-500M, the ground-launched weapon will reportedly be manufactured locally as part of a long-term arrangement between both companies.</p><p>The missile deal comes as Warsaw continues to expand its arsenal amid rising concern over Russian military activity near NATO's eastern border.</p><h2 id="barracuda-500m-production-takes-shape">Barracuda-500M production takes shape</h2><p>A full-scale mock-up of the missile was placed on public display for visitors attending this week's defense trade event held in Kielce, Poland.</p><p>The unveiling took place during the annual MSPO defense exhibition, where company representatives outlined the scope of the missile partnership.</p><p>The partnership covers both local assembly and eventual full-scale production of the missile inside Poland.</p><p>Company representatives have not yet said whether components will initially be shipped from the United States for domestic assembly work.</p><p>They have also not yet publicly disclosed a timeline for full-scale production or for when the missile might become operational.</p><h2 id="autonomous-aircraft-added-to-the-pitch">Autonomous aircraft added to the pitch</h2><p>Separately, Anduril is also pitching two autonomous aircraft designed to operate alongside Poland's future F-35 fighters and AH-64E Apache helicopters.</p><p>Brian Moran, who oversees Anduril's business operations across Europe, outlined the pitch during a separate interview at the MSPO show.</p><p>According to Moran, the Fury combat drone could accompany Poland's incoming batch of 32 F-35 fighters as a loyal wingman.</p><p>He explained that the aircraft has already been chosen by the U.S. Air Force for a formal, funded procurement effort.</p><p>"Fury is tailor-made to partner with an F-35 as a loyal wingman and as a force multiplier to keep men and women in uniform out of harm's way," Morgan said.</p><p>The Thunder rotorcraft, a separate autonomous platform built by the company, is designed specifically to operate alongside Poland's incoming fleet of 96 Apache helicopters.</p><p>Thunder was first unveiled publicly during the Farnborough Airshow held this past July, several months before Anduril intensified its talks with Polish defense officials.</p><p>"In July, we launched Thunder, which is an autonomous collaborative platform for the Apache attack helicopter," said Moran.</p><p>"And just like Fury operating with an F-35, with Poland getting all these Apaches, having Thunder is a force multiplier, especially as Poland will have to train a lot of pilots for 96 Apaches."</p><p>Moran noted that Poland is set to become the second-largest operator of Apache helicopters anywhere on the globe, trailing only the United States.</p><p>Delivery of all 96 helicopters, along with their associated equipment and weapons systems, is scheduled to formally begin during 2028.</p><p>That gap gives the Polish military several years to train pilots and prepare support systems before the Apaches actually arrive.</p><p>Beyond the 96 helicopters, Poland is also trying to expand its arsenal with ongoing discussions with Anduril regarding a possible purchase of the Thunder drone.</p><p>Via <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/09/09/anduril-doubles-down-on-poland-with-autonomous-aircraft-pitch-for-f-35-apache/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Defense News</a></p><figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:676px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:31.51%;"><img id="diM9tpwF2Lz85R8q85CT78" name="tr-g_news" alt="Google logo on a black background next to text reading 'Click to follow TechRadar'" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/diM9tpwF2Lz85R8q85CT78.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="676" height="213" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div></figure> </article> ]]>