Raytheon Secures $5 Billion U.S. Army Contract for Innovative Coyote Drone Defense Solutions
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Raytheon a $5.04 billion contract to provide the Army with its Coyote missile system, a counter-drone technology designed to intercept and neutralize unmanned aerial threats, including swarms.
The Department disclosed that Raytheon, based in Tucson, Arizona, will deliver both stationary and mobile Coyote launchers, kinetic and non-kinetic interceptors, coupled with Ku-band radio frequency system radars. The total worth of the contract is $5,039,629,681.
The contract faced online competition, with only one proposal submitted. Locations for tasks and funding allocations will be determined with each order. The Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is managing the program under contract number W31P4Q-25-D-0013. The projected completion date is September 28, 2033.
The Coyote is a compact, rail-deployed missile powered by a rocket booster and turbine engine, proficient in engaging high-speed targets at extended ranges and elevations. It is designed to assist in both unmanned aircraft system (UAS) countermeasures and launched effects operations.
The system includes kinetic variants, which neutralize targets through direct impact, and non-kinetic models, which utilize electronic or alternative techniques to incapacitate hostile drones without physical contact.
According to the Pentagon, the system has already been applied in operational environments and is part of extensive efforts to establish multi-layered defenses against aerial threats. Its extended range and altitude capabilities aim to provide commanders with enhanced flexibility in counter-drone missions.
