GQM-163 Coyote | |
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A GQM-163A Coyote test launch in May 2004. | |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Orbital Sciences |
Specifications | |
Length | 5.62m (18 ft 5.2 in) (without booster), 9.56m (31 ft 4.2 in) (incl. booster) |
Diameter | 35 cm (13.8 in), booster: 46 cm (17.99 in) |
| |
Propellant | Aerojet MARC-R-282 solid-fueled ducted rocket/ramjet engine |
Operational range | 45 nmi (84 km) [1] |
Flight ceiling | 55,000 feet |
Flight altitude | Sea-skimming: 30 feet (cruise phase), 15ft (terminal phase) |
Boost time | Hercules MK 70 solid-fueled rocket |
Maximum speed | Mach 3.0-4.0 at 5,000-55,000ft, Mach 2.6 at 30-15ft [2] |
The GQM-163 Coyote is a supersonic sea skimming target built by Orbital Sciences and used by the United States Navy as a successor to the MQM-8 Vandal. Orbital's proposal was chosen over the MA-31, a joint venture between Boeing and Zvezda-Strela. Orbital was awarded their contract for the development of the Coyote SSST in June 2000. The Coyote is initially boosted by a Hercules MK-70 booster, of similar design to those used by the now obsolete RIM-67 Standard ER missiles. After the booster stage is expended the missile switches to an Aerojet MARC-R-282 solid-fuel rocket /ramjet engine for sustaining its flight. [3][4][5]
In July 2018, Orbital Sciences Corp was awarded a US$52m modification to its existing contract, for 18 Lot 12 targets plus some Foreign Military Sales.[6]
Operators[]
Current operators[]
- Australia[7]
References[]
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Aster Slays The Russian Dragon
- ↑ Directory of US Military Rockets and Missiles
- ↑ "GQM-163 SSST: A Tricky Coyote to Match Wits With Defenses". http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/gqm163-ssst-a-tricky-coyote-to-match-wits-with-defenses-03155/. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ↑ Orbital tapped for Coyote supersonic sea skimming targets for Navy, Stephen Carlson, SpaceDaily.com, 2018-07-03
- ↑ ANZAC upgrade completes final acceptance trial
- ↑ Latest GQM-163 SSST contract includes first sale to Japan
The original article can be found at GQM-163 Coyote and the edit history here.