GQM-163 Coyote | |
Is Missile: | Yes |
Manufacturer: | Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital Sciences) |
Length: | without booster, with booster |
Diameter: | , booster: |
Primary Armament: | None |
Vehicle Range: | [1] |
Speed: | Mach 3.0-4.0 at, Mach 2.6 at |
Propellant: | Aerojet MARC-R-282 solid-fueled ducted rocket/ramjet engine |
Altitude: | Sea-skimming: cruise phase, terminal phase |
Boost: | Hercules MK 70 solid-fueled rocket |
The GQM-163 Coyote is a supersonic sea-skimming missile target built by Northrop Grumman[2] (formerly Orbital ATK) and used by the United States Navy as a successor to the MQM-8 Vandal. Orbital's proposal was chosen over the MA-31, a joint venture between Boeing and Zvezda-Strela. Orbital was awarded the development contract for the Coyote SSST in June 2000.
The Coyote is launched by a Hercules MK-70 booster, of similar design to those used by the obsolete RIM-67 Standard ER missiles. After the booster stage is expended the missile switches to an Aerojet MARC-R-282 solid-fuel rocket/ramjet engine for sustained flight.[3] [4] [5]
In July 2018, Orbital Sciences Corp was awarded a US$52m modification to its existing contract, for 18 Lot 12 targets plus some Foreign Military Sales.[6]