Come see what the Tau Barracuda Air superiority fighter can is capable of in today’s 40k Lore post!
Via our friends at Lexicanum
The Barracuda air superiority fighter is the Tau‘s most common atmospheric aircraft.
Overview
Faster than the Imperial Navy‘s Marauder bomber, but lacking the top speed of the Thunderbolt or Lightning fighter, it makes up for its shortcomings with its sophisticated electronics and pilots’ natural talents.
In a dogfight, Thunderbolts and Barracudas are very closely matched, with the Thunderbolt having the edge in speed but the Barracuda having the manoeuvrability. Despite this, the Imperium‘s pilots often have the hard edge of combat experience which the Tau’s Air Caste pilots find difficult to match.
Armament and Equipment
A Barracuda is armed with a nose-mounted, pilot aimed Ion Cannon. This is the aircraft’s primary weapon of use in dogfights, backed up by two drone controlled Burst Cannons in the wings. For ground attacks, it is primarily armed with wing mounted missile pods. When used in an ground attack role a Barracuda can carry additional armament of up to four Seeker missiles. These are not controlled by the pilot but by a Markerlight operator on the ground.[Needs Citation]
All Barracudas are equipped with escape pods. In the event that the aircraft sustains serious damage the pilot can eject. Some versions of Barracuda might include Blacksun Filters (night-fighting sensors),Disruption Pod and Decoy Launchers for additional protection.
Taros Campaign
On Taros, the Tau Coalition included a large Air Caste contingent, which formed an integral part of their strategy. Barracudas and Imperial Thunderbolts fought daily for the planet’s air superiority. Flying from well-concealed desert airbases the Barracudas eventually won the battle.
AX-5-2 Barracuda
Not only engaging in dogfights, the Barracudas also targeted the Imperial Guard‘s supply columns, operating in unison with Pathfinder teams in order to destroyTrojans and vital equipment. The Barracudas played a vital role in the Tau’s strategy, eventually defeating the Imperial Guard and forcing it to retreat.
AX-5-2 Barracuda
The AX-5-2 Barracuda is a more modern and updated Barracuda design.
Aircraft specifications
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record | |||
| Serial Number | N/A | Main Armament | Nose mounted Ion Cannon, wing mounted missile pods |
| Designation | Air Superiority Fighter | ||
| Vehicle Codename | Barracuda | Secondary Armament | 2x Drone controlled Burst Cannons |
| Vehicle Type | Aircraft | ||
| Crew | Pilot | Traverse | N/A |
| Weight | 7 tonnes | Elevation | N/A |
| Length | 14.1m | Ammunition | 8 Missiles. 8000 rounds |
| Width | N/A | Armour Type | 35mm, Nano-Crystalline alloy (composition unknown) |
| Height | 3.25mm | ||
| Max Recorded Speed | 2,100kph | ||
| Summary | Air superiority fighter | ||
Checkout what all the other TAU flyers can do as well!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
