US orders more Coyotes
Almost 220 GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea-skimming targets have been ordered to date by the USN. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman is providing more Coyote sea-skimming aerial targets to help test ship defences against incoming threats.
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.’
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