On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the American corporation RTX announced that its subsidiary Raytheon had successfully demonstrated the capabilities of the Coyote Block 3 Non-Kinetic (NK) system during recent tests for the U.S. Army. The system effectively neutralized drone swarms used during the exercise and demonstrated exceptional capabilities in launch, flight, target interception, and effector recovery.
An affordable and reusable variant was demonstrated during tests at the Tucson facility in Arizona / Photo: RTX
Coyote Block 3 NK is a counter–unmanned aerial system designed to defeat drone swarms in the area of operations using a non-kinetic payload that reduces the risk of collateral damage. After completing its mission, the interceptor can be easily recovered for reuse. Raytheon manufactures both kinetic and non-kinetic variants of the Coyote system, capable of engaging small and large unmanned aerial vehicles at greater ranges and higher altitudes than comparable systems in its class.
„Coyote provides warfighters a cost-effective defense for individual drones and swarms,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. „We continue to invest in Coyote’s combat-proven capabilities, ensuring that allies around the globe gain an affordable operational advantage over sophisticated and evolving drone threats.”
Under the U.S. Low, Slow, Small-Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS) program, Raytheon was awarded the largest counter-drone contract in its history. To meet growing global demand for affordable and combat-proven anti-drone systems, the company has made significant investments in the production of kinetic Coyote variants and in enhancing their performance to keep pace with emerging threats. These upgrades have reduced launch times, increased speed and range at higher altitudes, and improved effectiveness against unmanned aerial vehicles carrying heavier payloads over longer distances.
Source: RTX
Coyote
On October 25, 2023, RTX announced that, together with the U.S. Army, it had tested a prototype of the LIDS system. During the trials, Coyote interceptors demonstrated effectiveness against drones operating individually and in swarms, regardless of their size or maneuverability, at higher altitudes and longer ranges than other effectors in the same class.
The system was tested in conjunction with the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control System (FAADC2) developed by Northrop Grumman, as well as an electronic warfare system produced by Syracuse Research Corporation. Together, these components form a stationary, transportable, or mobile multi-mission system providing a comprehensive extended-range air defense solution. Individual elements of the system had previously been tested in 2021 and 2022.
Earlier, on October 10, 2022, RTX received a 207 million USD order from the U.S. Army for the delivery of KuRFS radars and Coyote interceptors for two divisions.
The smallest platforms capable of carrying Coyote tube launchers are the M-ATV mine-resistant vehicle and the MRZR light tactical vehicle. The unmanned systems can conduct flights lasting approximately 60 minutes. They can also be used for reconnaissance missions, electronic warfare, and strike operations.
RTX has also developed a smaller, mobile variant of the KuRFS radar designated Ku-720, as well as the non-kinetic Coyote Block 3 described above, which is also intended to serve as a dedicated loitering munition (with Coyote Block 2 offered for export).
Coyote was originally developed by the now-defunct Advanced Ceramic Research, which was acquired in 2009 by BAE Systems and shortly thereafter sold back to its former owners, operating under the new name Sensintel. In 2015, the company was acquired by Raytheon. The Coyote Block 1B variant is part of the Howler air defense system used by the U.S. Army, which achieved initial operational capability in 2019.
It is also worth noting that the fixed-site version of the system, FS-LIDS (Fixed Site), was ordered by Qatar on May 14, 2025, for the equivalent of 1 billion USD, making the Arab state the first export customer worldwide.