Northrop Grumman Delivers 200th GQM-163A Coyote Target Vehicle to U.S. Navy
Northrop Grumman has delivered the 200th GQM-163A “Coyote” target vehicle to the U.S. Navy and marked a milestone that underscores over twenty years of continuous service for the program. The GQM-163A Coyote is a supersonic, sea-skimming target drone designed to simulate fasst moving advanced anti-ship cruise missile threats. According to Northrop Grumman, it remains the only supersonic sea-skimming target produced in the United States and serves as the Navy’s program of record for high-speed threat simulation. This achievement reflects Northrop Grumman’s sustained production capability and dedication to the program.
The GQM-163A program began in 2000, when Orbital Sciences (later acquired by Northrop Grumman) received the initial contract from the U.S. Navy. The goal was to develop a target system that could replicate high-speed, sea-skimming threats such as those posed by Russian or Chinese cruise missiles. The Navy has issued several contract awards over the years to maintain and expand the Coyote program. Northrop Grumman received a $55 million contract to continue producing the GQM-163A target vehicles in 2021.
The Coyote features a solid-fueled, air-breathing ducted-rocket engine and advanced avionics, enabling it to present multiple threat profiles. It can cruise at over Mach 2.5 at low altitude in sea-skimming mode or ascend to high altitude and dive at Mach 3.5 or more from approximately 52,000 feet. These extreme speeds and flight profiles closely mimic hostile missile attacks, providing a realistic test target for ship defenses. In service, the GQM-163A target vehicle is routinely utilized in fleet training and live-fire exercises. By offering a cost-effective and high-speed target, the Coyote assists crews in preparing for real-world threats and enhances confidence in the Navy’s surface-to-air defenses.
The Coyote It is designed and built at Northrop Grumman’s launch-vehicle production facility in Chandler, Arizona. The company manages the program’s full lifecycle from engineering and production to flight testing and logistics support. As high-speed anti-ship threats continue to proliferate, the GQM-163A Coyote remains central to U.S. Navy missile defense training and readiness, embodying a mature, proven target system for fleet protection.