Embraer and U.S. defense technology company Anduril have signed a memorandum of understanding to study the integration of the Barracuda-500M cruise missile with the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft.
The agreement, announced on Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow, focuses on a palletized version of the missile that can be loaded and released from the cargo compartment using standard air-drop procedures.
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The concept would allow the C-390 to launch multiple stand-off weapons while retaining its conventional transport role.
The Barracuda-500M is part of Anduril's Barracuda family of low-cost cruise missiles and follows the company's recent expansion into tactical aircraft programs, including the YFQ-44A uncrewed fighter selected by the U.S. Air Force under its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
"This collaboration with Anduril marks another important step in the evolution of the C-390 Millennium," Embraer Defense & Security CEO Bosco da Costa Junior said.
Unlike aircraft that require dedicated launch systems, the proposed solution relies on roll-on/roll-off mission equipment installed inside the cargo hold. That approach allows operators to return the aircraft to transport missions after removing the palletized launch system.
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Anduril completed the first flight test of the pallet-launched Barracuda-500M in 2024 and has continued the development campaign with additional flight tests. The company has also secured U.S. defense procurement agreements for the missile and a local production partnership in Poland.
The agreement does not include a production contract or an integration schedule. It establishes a framework for both companies to evaluate the capability for potential future customers of the C-390.
