BARRACUDA provides space for a fully equipped crew of 12 persons including driver and commander. The interior has been designed according to ergonomic aspects. The extremely good range of vision offered by large bullet-proof windows ensures that the vehicle can be easily driven even in normal road traffic.

Doors for the driver and commander as well as a swing type door on the left hand side and a large rear door allow rapid access and exit of the crew. Operation of all vehicles of the BARRACUDA series is uncomplicated and correspond to those of civilian vehicles.

The all-wheel driven UNIMOG-chassis made by MERCEDES-BENZ puts the BARRACUDA in

the "high mobility" vehicle chassis. Consequently it has the highest level of cross-country performance and completely fulfills the specified requirements for this category, such as high engine power, high speed, all-wheel drive and differential lock.

The Barracuda has been developed by the Doosan Infracore Defense Products BG (previously Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery Ltd), which is also prime contractor for the full-tracked Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle (KIFV).

The Barracuda has been designed for a wide range of roles and missions including armoured personnel carrier (APC), reconnaissance vehicle and for internal security (IS).

To reduce life-cycle costs, Barracuda is based on the chassis of the latest production German Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG U-5000 (4 × 4) cross-country truck.

A batch of Barracuda vehicles has been sold to the South Korea for use in the internal security role and as of September 2007 known export sales include Indonesia (44) and Iraq (12).

The hull of the Barracuda is of all-welded steel armour construction that provides the crew with protection from small-arms fire and shell splinters.

The vehicle has a crew of two - commander and driver - and can carry 10 fully equipped troops. The commander and driver are seated at the front of the vehicle and have bulletproof windows to their front and sides. These can be rapidly covered by armoured shutters that fold upwards. When these are in position the commander and driver have front and side observation via roof-mounted periscopes.

The crew and troops can rapidly enter and leave the vehicle via side and rear doors. Firing ports and associated bulletproof vision blocks allow the troops to fire their weapons from within the vehicle. There are also hatches in the roof and a remote-controlled searchlight can be installed on the forward part of the roof.

The baseline Barracuda APC has a gross vehicle weight of 11.7 tonnes and is powered by a DaimlerChrysler OM 924LA turbocharged diesel engine developing 218 hp, which is coupled to a DaimlerChrysler Electrical Pneumatic Shifting (EPS) transmission with eight forward gears and six reverse. Run-flat inserts are standard and numerous optional equipment is available.

Armament of the Barracuda depends on role but can typically include a 7.62 mm or .50 (12.7 mm) roof-mounted machine gun (MG), and banks of electrically operated smoke grenade launchers. A cupola armed with a .50 (12.7 mm) MG similar to that fitted to the KIFV is also marketed, which provides all-round protection for the gunner.

The Barracuda is almost identical in appearance and specifications to the German Rheinmetall Landsysteme TM-170 series of 4 × 4 vehicle, which were developed in the 1970s.

The TM-170 series entered production in 1979 with significant quantities being built for the home (Federal German Border Police) and export markets.

Production of the TM-170 is complete and it is no longer being marketed by Rheinmetall Landsysteme.

As stated in the Development section, Barracuda can be adopted for a wide range of specialist roles.

For some export customers, bar/slat armour has been fitted through a full 360 degrees to provide protection against Rocket Propelled Grenades such as the RPG-7.