In a strategic move set to redefine military airlift, Brazilian giant Embraer has signed an agreement with the U.S. firm Anduril to pursue a palletized weapons program. The partnership focuses on integrating the Barracuda-500M cruise missile onto the C-390 Millennium aircraft, marking the first time offensive capabilities will be added to this design.
The Barracuda system: Transforming transport aircraft into offensive assets
Under the new Memorandum of Understanding, the firms will integrate Anduril’s palletized missiles directly into the cargo hold of the Millennium. This approach provides allied militaries with a new way to generate massed, stand-off effects from a proven airlift platform. According to Anduril officials, the Barracuda family of systems delivers rapidly producible and operationally relevant capabilities to meet the growing global demand for affordable, scalable munitions.
Global demand on the rise: Interest spans from Europe to Asia
The interest in this new capability is already significant, with Embraer’s defense division reporting demand from several countries across Europe and Asia. While a specific timeline for testing has not been released, the flexible and efficient methods employed by Anduril suggest a very fast implementation process. The C-390 is already operational or ordered by numerous nations, including Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, with the latter expecting deliveries by 2028.
Beyond the Millennium: Scaling up Gripen production and A-29 upgrades
Embraer is also expanding its broader defense portfolio, significantly increasing the production of Saab Gripen jets at its Brazilian facility for international customers. Furthermore, the company announced planned improvements for the A-29 Super Tucano, which will feature fifth-generation avionics and a specialized focus on counter-drone (cUAS) missions. Additionally, development continues on a Northrop-designed refueling boom for the KC-390, a project specifically targeting the requirements of the U.S. Air Force.
