Latvia is moving toward acquiring Anduril Industries’ Barracuda family of long-range cruise missiles following a visit by President Edgars Rinkēvičs to the company’s California facilities on September 25, 2026, marking a significant expansion of precision-strike capabilities for the Baltic state.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs Announces Prospective Missile Acquisition in California
Latvian leadership is setting its sights on a major upgrade to the country’s conventional deterrence posture. During a visit to Anduril Industries in California on September 25, 2026, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with company founder Palmer Luckey to discuss expanding the nation’s military reach.
While visiting the defense technology firm, Rinkēvičs indicated that the Baltic nation intends to secure a long-range strike weapon capable of hitting targets far beyond its borders. The prospective purchase would make Latvia the first of the Baltic states to field a strike weapon of this specific category, according to reporting from military technology analysts.
“It was great to visit Anduril to meet with Palmer Luckey and to witness signing of memoranda of cooperation with MOD of Latvia and Origin Robotics. Looking forward to complete acquisition of Barracuda long-range missiles and [Latvian-U.S.] defense industry cooperation.”
Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia, via X
Neither Latvian officials nor representatives from Anduril have disclosed the financial value of the prospective purchase, the exact number of missiles under discussion, or a confirmed delivery timeline. Negotiations remain ongoing regarding the specific contract terms for the American long-range strike missiles.
Weighing the Barracuda-500M and Ground-Launched Options for Baltic Defense
The centerpiece of the prospective agreement is the Barracuda family of jet-powered, mass-producible cruise missiles. Among the variants, the Barracuda-500M serves as the long-range member, engineered with subsonic propulsion systems capable of carrying warheads exceeding 100 pounds across extended distances.
Technical specifications indicate that the Barracuda-500M delivers a range of more than 500 nautical miles—approximately 926 kilometers—traveling at speeds up to 500 knots. This reach would roughly triple the distance provided by the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) rounds that Latvia has previously ordered for its M142 HIMARS launchers, which operate at a range of about 300 kilometers.
Because Latvia operates a limited helicopter inventory and maintains no fast jet fighter aircraft, defense analysts expect the country to select a surface-launched configuration rather than air-launched variants. The broader family of weapons can operate autonomously and collaboratively, serving dual roles as both strike munitions and operational decoys.
Origin Robotics Integrates Counter-Drone Systems With Anduril Lattice Architecture
Alongside the missile discussions, the presidential visit marked a formal expansion of domestic defense industrial ties. President Rinkēvičs witnessed the signing of cooperative memoranda between the Latvian Ministry of Defence and Origin Robotics, a local defense firm specializing in uncrewed aerial systems and counter-drone technology.
Under this secondary agreement, Origin Robotics will integrate its briefcase-sized BLAZE autonomous interceptor—which relies on advanced camera and radar guidance—into Anduril’s Lattice command and control system. The combined setup aims to establish a strong counter-uncrewed aircraft capability designed for military testing and operational deployment along NATO's eastern flank.
Broader European Shift Toward Long-Range Conventional Deterrence
Latvian interest in acquiring mass-producible cruise missiles reflects a wider military transformation across European NATO members.
Neighboring Poland has similarly advanced its long-range architecture by pursuing ground-launched missile systems and partnering with Anduril to assemble Barracuda-500Ms locally at Bydgoszcz. For smaller front-line nations like Latvia, mobile ground systems offer an affordable means of establishing credible deterrence by punishment, holding logistics hubs and command infrastructure far behind adversary lines at risk without requiring air superiority.