Northrop Grumman has secured a new US Navy order to deliver 18 additional GQM-163A ‘Coyote’ supersonic sea-skimming target (SSST) vehicles. The US Navy exercised the first of three options under a previously signed contract to place the $55.4m order. The latest order brings the total number of the GQM-163A targets ordered to date to 218.
Developed by Northrop Grumman, the Coyote SSST vehicles are used to test ship defences against multiple incoming threat scenarios.
The system can be used as a Mach 2.5+ sea skimming target or as a Mach 3.5+ diving target from a maximum altitude of 52,000ft.
Additionally, the ground launched vehicle is capable of performing high G turns.
Northrop Grumman started developing the Coyote in the early 2000s. The target vehicle completed first flight in 2003...MORE
