Raytheon has unveiled a version of its Coyote drone interceptor that runs on a single solid rocket motor, and the company said Oct. 12 that the new model recently finished three flight tests.
The variant, called Block 2C+RM, drops the earlier Block 2's pairing of a booster rocket and a sustaining turbojet in favor of one rocket motor. It also adds an upgraded seeker, according to Tom Laliberty, who leads Raytheon's Land & Air Defense Systems business.
"What that does is you get upgraded propulsion for faster launch and higher velocity flight," Laliberty told reporters, adding that the seeker and warhead improvements are meant to counter newer drone capabilities.
Asked whether the changes were aimed at the faster jet-powered, one-way attack drones Iran and Russia have recently fielded, Laliberty declined to get into specifics. He said the goal is for the interceptor to cover every kind of Class 3 drone.
The flight tests also showed the new version works with the launch and control gear already used on the ground for Coyote, he said.
