The US Army has awarded Raytheon a $5-billion contract to deliver its advanced Coyote missile system, a high-speed counter-drone solution with versatile mission capabilities. The agreement includes fixed and mobile launchers, a range of interceptors—both kinetic and non-kinetic—and state-of-the-art Ku-band radio frequency system radars to ensure robust detection and targeting.
Raytheon’s Coyote family is engineered for flexible deployment on ground and air platforms, with possible applications at sea. The system is best known for its small, expendable, rail-launched interceptor variant, tailored to neutralize uncrewed aerial threats using either physical impact or other non-destructive payloads. In addition, Raytheon offers the launched effects (LE) version of Coyote, which builds on the anti-drone function by supporting missions such as surveillance, electronic warfare, and precision strikes.
A notable advantage of the LE SR (short-range) model lies in its reusability, allowing it to be recovered after missions. The US Army has actively integrated Coyote systems into its force structure, including a procurement of 600 2C drone interceptors in January 2024 amid concerns over threats to American forces in the Middle East.
Highlighting its international reach, Raytheon partnered with the United Arab Emirates in April 2025 to establish local production of the Coyote system, marking a key milestone in global counter-drone defense collaboration.
