Coyote is RTX's low-cost, rail-launched counter-UAS effector, used with KuRFS and LIDS to defend fixed and mobile sites against drones and swarms. The family now spans kinetic and non-kinetic variants, including Block 2C and Block 3NK, and U.S. forces have used it in Gulf air-base defense.
Reuters reporting said U.S. forces used RTX-made Coyote interceptors at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia to counter short-range drone attacks on Gulf air defenses in the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict.
RTX's family page splits Coyote into a kinetic interceptor, a recoverable non-kinetic variant, and a broader launched-effects family that can move across mobile and fixed-site launch contexts.
| Designation | Role | Documented context |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote Block 2 | Kinetic interceptor | RTX describes it as an expendable counter-UAS effector using a kinetic warhead. |
| Coyote Block 3NK | Non-kinetic interceptor | RTX says it can loiter, defeat drone swarms, and be recalled for another engagement. |
| Coyote LE | Launched effects family | RTX says the family supports launched-effects missions from mobile and fixed-site platforms across land, air, and sea. |
Coyote is documented as a fixed-site-launched counter-UAS effector in the LIDS family of systems.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Fixed-site launcher | SRC's LIDS brochure says Coyote is launched from fixed-site launcher systems, and Army AL&T labels a fixed-site Coyote Block 2 launcher. Sources: LIDS Family of Systems Brochure, Fixed-site Coyote Block 2 launcher |
Coyote is also documented in a mobile LIDS launcher configuration.
| Launcher | Launcher type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Mobile launcher vehicle | SRC's LIDS brochure says Coyote is launched from mobile launcher systems, and Army AL&T labels an M-LIDS kinetic defeat vehicle with a Coyote Block 2 launcher. Sources: LIDS Family of Systems Brochure, Innovation Draws International Interest |
Coyote is documented alongside KuRFS as part of the Army's LIDS detect-and-defeat stack.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Counter-UAS radar | RTX says KuRFS and Coyote provide the detect-and-defeat components of LIDS, and the Army says Coyote integrates into fixed-site LIDS as a ground-launched, radar-guided interceptor. Sources: Meet the US Army's LIDS: A sure shot against drones, Army announces rapid acquisition authority contract for Coyote Interceptors |
Army reporting places Coyote inside the fixed-site LIDS detect-and-defeat stack.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Fixed-site counter-UAS system | The Army says Coyote is a key component of the counter-UAS system of systems and integrates into fixed-site LIDS; the SRC brochure also places Coyote in the fixed-site kinetic-defeat stack. Sources: Army announces rapid acquisition authority contract for Coyote Interceptors, LIDS Family of Systems Brochure |
Coyote is also documented as part of the mobile LIDS defeat layer.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile counter-UAS system | RTX describes LIDS as deployable as mobile or fixed, and SRC's brochure places Coyote in the mobile LIDS architecture. Sources: Meet the US Army's LIDS: A sure shot against drones, LIDS Family of Systems Brochure |
RTX says Raytheon began developing Coyote under an Army JUONS effort, turning the concept into a counter-UAS effector family.
Sources: Meet the US Army's LIDS: A sure shot against drones
RTX says the Army's LIDS counter-UAS system began operating in the CENTCOM area with KuRFS and Coyote as its detect-and-defeat pair.
Sources: Meet the US Army's LIDS: A sure shot against drones
The Army awarded RTX $75 million for 600 Coyote 2C interceptors in direct support of the counter-UAS mission.
Sources: Army announces rapid acquisition authority contract for Coyote Interceptors
RTX said Coyote Block 3NK defeated multiple drone swarms in a U.S. Army demo and proved launch, flight, intercept, and recovery behavior.
Sources: RTX's Raytheon's non-kinetic Coyote variant defeats multiple drone swarms
