GQM-163 Coyote

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.

GQM-163 Coyote
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]

A GQM-163A Coyote flies over the bow of a U.S. Navy observation ship during a routine test.

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]