Coyote Block 1

Overview

Coyote Block 1 is the foundational variant of the Raytheon Coyote family, originally conceived as a small expendable reconnaissance drone that was later adapted for the counter-UAS mission. Weighing under six kilograms, it can be launched from a pneumatic tube and either loiter for ISR collection or fly a kinetic intercept profile against hostile small drones. It represented one of the earliest purpose-adapted kinetic defeat options for the US military's counter-small-UAS toolkit.

Development History

The Coyote program began under the Office of Naval Research and Raytheon as a low-cost, expendable ISR platform capable of launch from sonobuoy tubes aboard Navy aircraft. As the small UAS threat emerged in Iraq and Syria in 2016-2017, the Army urgently needed affordable kinetic interceptors. Raytheon adapted the Coyote Block 1 airframe with a blast-fragmentation warhead, enabling it to physically destroy incoming drones. This dual-use heritage gave the program a rapid development timeline, leveraging an already mature air vehicle.

Operational Concept

In the counter-UAS role, Coyote Block 1 is cued by external sensors such as the KURFS radar or an EO/IR tracker. Upon detection of an inbound threat, an operator launches the Coyote from its tube, and the interceptor navigates to the target area via GPS guidance. In the terminal phase, it uses onboard sensors to close on the threat and detonates its warhead in proximity. Multiple Coyotes can be launched in rapid succession to engage swarm threats.

Future Development

Coyote Block 1 has been largely superseded by the more capable Block 2+ and Block 3 variants, which offer improved seekers, longer range, and enhanced warheads. However, the Block 1 remains in inventory and continues to serve as a training round and low-cost option. Lessons from Block 1 operations directly informed the design improvements in subsequent variants.