Sophisticated, This Cruise Missile Drone is Voice Controlled

JAKARTA – Defense technology startup Anduril reveals drone The latest weapon, Barracuda. ​​This cruise missile drone is quite sophisticated because it is controlled via voice commands.

Anduril has created a series of air-breathing autonomous aerial vehicles, similar to cruise missiles or one-way drones. The weapons drones come in three configurations — the Barracuda-100, -250, and -500 — with each version increasing in size and payload.

Breaking Defense page reported, Monday (16/9/2024) the largest configuration of the Barracuda has a range of more than 804 kilometers and can carry a payload of more than 50 kilograms. Meanwhile, the two smaller configurations have a shorter range and a payload of up to 18 kilograms. These three variants can fly at speeds of up to 500 knots.

Chris Brose, Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril, said that they are currently trying to minimize the use of defense-specific materials and rely more on commercially available components. Barracuda can be launched from a variety of platforms, including aircraft, ships and land-based systems.

The weapon was selected in the early stages of development by the US Air Force and Defense Innovation Unit for a low-cost air vehicle. In addition, the Barracuda can be configured as a cruise missile or munition with modular features that allow it to perform a variety of functions, such as deception, target detection, and attack.

The key to Barracuda’s autonomous capabilities lies in its software, which uses Anduril’s Lattice platform. This software can help overcome enemy countermeasures and simplify system upgrades.

In addition, Anduril is also exploring the use of large language models such as ChatGPT for drone operations. For example, operators can request reports from drones after a long patrol. This feature has been tested in simulations and is likely to be implemented in real environments in the near future.

Despite advances in the ability for a single operator to control multiple drones at once, challenges such as enemy interference remain. However, Salmon, Anduril’s Vice President for Air Dominance & Strike, hopes the technology will be implemented in the next few years.

The voice command demonstration, which requires operator permission to fire the drone, highlights the debate about the level of autonomy allowed for lethal weapons systems. Anduril is committed to adhering to DoD policy on the use of autonomous weapons, but acknowledges that policies may change over time.

(msf)