In a move echoing the urgency exposed by the recent attack on U.S. forces in Jordan, the U.S. Army awarded a $75 million contract to RTX Corporation on Jan. 16 for the production of 600 Coyote 2C Interceptors. This swift action, leveraging the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s rapid acquisition authority and completed within 30 days, underscores the critical need to strengthen counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) capabilities following the tragic loss of three American soldiers on Jan. 28.
On that day, a one-way uncrewed aerial system (OUAS) attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, resulted in the deaths of three service members and injuries to over 40 others. This incident highlighted the evolving threat posed by sUAS, particularly OUAS designed for single-use attacks, and sparked calls for more robust C-UAS defenses.
Featuring both kinetic and non-kinetic variants, the ground-launched, radar-guided Coyote system integrates seamlessly into fixed-site and mobile C-UAS platforms, offering flexible countermeasures against low, slow, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). This versatility is crucial, allowing operators to tailor their response based on the specific situation and minimize collateral damage.
While the specific deployment locations for these additional interceptors remain undisclosed, this acquisition adds to the growing momentum in C-UAS development and procurement across the military.
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