Cubic tailors mortar simulator for the US Army
The company’s mortar trainer received improvements based on soldier’s feedback.
Almost 220 GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea-skimming targets have been ordered to date by the USN. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $55.4 million contract option to produce 18 additional GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea-skimming target vehicles.
This brings to 218 the number of Coyotes ordered to date.
US Naval Sea Systems Command can exercise two more options against the original Lot 14 full-rate production contract, awarded in November 2020 for $57.1 million.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the GQM-163A Coyote is a two-stage aerial target that can simulate a threat approaching at Mach 2.5 at 15ft or a high-altitude threat diving from 60,000ft.
Rich Straka, VP of launch vehicles at Northrop Grumman, said in a 14 May statement: ‘Our design integrates a solid-fuel, air-breathing ducted rocket propulsion system with high-performance avionics capable of emulating multiple scenarios.’
The company’s mortar trainer received improvements based on soldier’s feedback.
The company will operate in two new locations in the coming years to better support US services.
This type of tool provides more realistic training easing the incorporation of new scenarios that accurately represent the threats of the battlefield.
The Engineering Corps has been conducting individual instruction using FLAIM Systems’ Sweeper and should start collective deployments in 2025.
The next-generation platform is motion-compatible and can be used in OTW and NVG applications.
The system can be used to prepare soldiers for both drone offensive operations and CUAS missions.