---
title: "Pentagon shifts strategy: cheap missiles from Anduril and other vendors instead of expensive munitions"
description: "The Pentagon has signed agreements with Anduril and other companies to supply cheap missiles at $218,000 each to replace munitions costing over $1.3 million. Under the FAMM program, thousands of units are planned to be purchased annually. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Fire Point has announced an air defense system that is 7 times cheaper than Patriot. 🚀🇺🇸🇺🇦"
date: 2026-07-16T10:19:34.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pentagon-cheap-missiles-anduril-barracuda-500
tags: [pentagon, anduril, us-air-force, fire-point, missile-defense]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Pentagon shifts strategy: cheap missiles from Anduril and other vendors instead of expensive munitions

![Anduril missile on a stand: an example of the Pentagon's new strategy to use cheap munitions instead of expensive ones](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/pentagon-zakupki-deshovyh-raket-anduril-barracuda-500/pentagon-zakupki-deshovyh-raket-anduril-barracuda-500-1.webp)

The United States Air Force (USAF) is radically changing its approach to armaments, focusing on mass purchases of inexpensive cruise missiles. The Pentagon has concluded that cheap munitions, which can be produced in the thousands, are capable of performing tasks previously assigned to significantly more expensive systems.

### Principle of affordability and scalability

Traditional long-range air-to-surface missiles cost more than $1.3 million per unit. In contrast, the new USAF strategy involves acquiring missiles at a price of around $218,000 each. Such savings will allow for a significant increase in stockpiles and ensure a high density of fire.

The program, named "Family of Affordable Mass Munitions" (FAMM), provides for the creation of two main variants:

- **FAMM-L:** variant for use by fighters and bombers.

- **FAMM-P:** variant for dropping from transport aircraft.

Both types of missiles have a range of 250 to 500 miles.

### Key players: Anduril, CoAspire, and Zone 5

According to Defense News, the Pentagon has already signed framework agreements with three companies for the development and supply of new systems:

- **Anduril:** will present the Barracuda-500 missile.

- **CoAspire:** will develop a "rapidly adaptable affordable cruise missile".

- **Zone 5 Technologies:** will offer the Rusty Dagger missile.

Anduril, whose Barracuda-500 missile is shown in the photo, confirmed that its framework agreement is calculated for seven years. Deliveries under this contract are expected to begin in 2027. According to the company's plans, the USAF intends to purchase up to 8,000 FAMM rounds annually, distributing orders among all competing suppliers.

### Budget forecasts and deal conditions

It is important to understand that the signed agreements are framework agreements, not direct orders for products. The US Department of Defense stated that the missiles must undergo full testing and qualification. Actual purchases are possible only after approval by Congress.

Nevertheless, budget forecasts look impressive: over five years, it is planned to purchase 28,000 missiles from all suppliers for a total of $12.6 billion. In the last year of this five-year cycle, the acquisition of nearly 8,000 missiles (7,990 units) is planned.

### Global trend: cheap air defense systems

The trend towards cheaper armaments is observed not only in the US. Ukrainian company Fire Point announced the creation of the Freyja air defense system, which is positioned as an alternative to American Patriots.

The key element of the Freyja system will be the FP-7.X interceptor, the cost of which is estimated at approximately $700,000 per shot. For comparison: one Patriot PAC-3 missile costs more than $5 million, and often several interceptors are required to guarantee the destruction of a ballistic target. Thus, the cost of one shot in the Fire Point system could be seven times lower than that of traditional American complexes.