Northrop Grumman GQM-163 Coyote
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems · United States · first flew 2003 · reconnaissance aircraft
The GQM-163 Coyote is a supersonic, sea-skimming aerial target used by the US Navy to simulate threat anti-ship cruise missiles for fleet defense training. It reaches speeds exceeding Mach 2 at very low altitude, replicating the most demanding engagement scenarios.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Supersonic sea-skimming target drone
- Solid rocket booster for launch
- Simulates anti-ship cruise missiles
Very slender tubular fuselage with small cropped-delta wings and no conventional tail; a prominent solid-rocket booster surrounds the tail section at launch. Distinguishable from cruise missiles by its purely expendable target mission markings.
Specifications
- The Northrop Grumman GQM-163 Coyote has a length of 5.84 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 0.97 m (3 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2410 km/h (1498 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Orbital Sciences (later Northrop Grumman) for the US Navy's Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target (SSST) program, the GQM-163 entered service around 2004. It is rail-launched with a solid-fuel booster that separates after ignition, with the sustainer ramjet/turbojet powering the vehicle to its target area.
Variants
The baseline GQM-163A is the primary production variant; upgraded configurations have refined flight profiles and target-scoring systems to match evolving threat envelopes.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the US Navy and Marine Corps at Pacific Missile Range Facility and Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility to exercise Aegis and other shipboard air-defense systems.
Related aircraft
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