RTX’s Coyote Block 3NK Defeats Drone Swarms and Secures Army LIDS Contract
RTX’s Coyote Block 3 Non-Kinetic variant successfully defeated multiple drone swarms in a U.S. Army demonstration, showcasing launch, loiter, intercept and recovery capabilities. The business also secured its largest-ever counter-drone contract under the Army’s LIDS program, supporting expanded Coyote production and performance enhancements.
1. U.S. Army Demonstration Success
RTX’s Raytheon business showcased the Coyote Block 3 Non-Kinetic variant during a U.S. Army exercise in Tucson, Arizona, where the system launched, loitered, intercepted and recovered multiple drone swarms. The non-kinetic payload neutralized threats without collateral damage, and the missile was successfully recalled and redeployed for successive engagements.
2. Largest LIDS Counter-Drone Contract
Raytheon secured its largest-ever counter-unmanned aircraft contract under the Army’s Low, slow, small-UAS Integrated Defeat System (LIDS) program, expanding demand for affordable counter-drone solutions. The award underscores military confidence in Coyote’s combat-proven capabilities and accelerates pipeline growth.
3. Production Investments and Performance Enhancements
To meet growing global demand, RTX has significantly ramped production of both kinetic and non-kinetic Coyote variants and invested in upgrades enabling faster launch sequences, higher top speeds and extended engagement ranges at increased altitudes. These enhancements position Coyote to counter next-generation UAS threats carrying heavier payloads over longer distances.