Embraer and Anduril announced have signed an MOU to jointly pursue the integration of Anduril’s pallet-launched Barracuda-500M (B-500M) stand-off cruise missile into the C-390 Millennium. Anduril positions the Barracuda-500M as an affordable, mass-producible cruise missile designed to rapidly rebuild and enhance U.S. and allied munitions inventories. The company further emphasises that the palletized variant enables airlift aircraft to launch dozens of munitions simultaneously, unlocking new concepts of operation centered around cost-effective, large-scale employment.
The collaboration aims to expand the C-390’s operational capabilities by providing a flexible, rapidly deployable solution for modern military operations. The initiative represents a significant step in the aircraft’s evolution as a multi-mission platform and force multiplier, supporting agile combat employment and addressing the operational requirements of U.S. and allied forces through enhanced interoperability and mission effectiveness.
“This collaboration with Anduril marks another important step in the evolution of the C-390 Millennium. By exploring the integration of stand-off launch capabilities for palletized, kinetic, and non-kinetic effects, we are further expanding the aircraft’s flexibility to meet the evolving needs of modern air forces. Together, we are developing innovative solutions that strengthen mission versatility, support agile combat employment, and increase operational possibilities for our customers worldwide,” said Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
“Integrating the pallet-launched Barracuda-500M with Embraer’s C-390 Millennium gives allied militaries a new way to generate massed, stand-off effects from a proven airlift platform,” said Greg Kausner, Senior Vice President for Global Defense at Anduril. “Anduril’s Barracuda family of systems delivers rapidly producible, operationally relevant capabilities to meet the growing demand for affordable, scalable munitions.”
The C-390 Millennium, built and designed in the 21st century, is the most modern military transport aircraft in its class. It can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft, flying faster (470 knots) and farther. It can perform a wide range of missions, including cargo and troop transport, equipment and personnel airdrops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, and humanitarian missions, operating from temporary or unpaved runways. The aircraft, when configured with quick-installation air-to-air refueling equipment, can operate both as a tanker and as a receiver.
This next-generation multi-mission aircraft has been selected by the Air Forces of Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, and Lithuania. The C-390 Millennium delivers unmatched capability, reliability, versatility, and performance to meet the tactical and strategic needs of air forces worldwide with seamless interoperability.
Anduril completed the first successful flight test of Pallet-Launched B-500M in September 2024 and has since conducted dozens of successful flight tests that have further validated the maturity, performance, and modularity of the Barracuda-500 system, including Networked Collaborative Autonomy flights, terminal engagements, and payload performance validation testing. This agreement shows continued applications for the B-500M, building on recent procurement framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War, as well as a localised production deal with PGZ in Poland.
Embraer and Saab sign production deal for 20 Gripens in Brazil
Embraer and Saab announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement (HoA) providing a framework for the potential production of 20 additional Gripen aircraft at Embraer’s industrial complex in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo State, Brazil. Embraer will take responsibility for assembling these aircraft, serving as a complement to Saab’s final assembly line located in Linköping, Sweden, to meet global demand for the Swedish fighter.
“The expansion of this partnership with Saab reflects the mutual trust built over the past ten years and reinforces Embraer’s strategic role in the Gripen programme. We are well positioned to support increased production capacity, if demand requires it”, said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
“The partnership between Saab and Embraer reinforces our long-term commitment to Latin America. Together, we are strengthening our capabilities, securing additional capacity for future business opportunities, and taking a forward-leaning approach to supporting the evolving needs of our customers across the region”, said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility (GPX) has established itself as a strategic industrial hub, recognized for its advanced manufacturing capabilities, skilled workforce, and production capacity. Operating as part of a globally integrated production model that brings together Brazilian and international suppliers, the site demonstrates the strength of this partnership while supporting increased industrial output and creating opportunities for continued growth in high-technology aerospace programmes.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected]
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]
