Raytheon, an RTX business, has completed three successful tests involving upgrades to its Coyote unmanned aerial system family, including a helicopter launch of the new Coyote LE SR variant at the Nine Mile training centre in Texas. The trials extend development of a programme that Raytheon has worked on for about eight years and support the system’s continued evolution for military UAS and counter-UAS missions.
The Coyote LE SR is part of Raytheon’s broader Launched Effects concept, which covers small uncrewed aircraft deployed from air, ground or maritime platforms. Earlier Coyote Block 2 variants were developed primarily for counter-drone operations, while the LE SR expands the family’s intended mission set to include reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, electronic warfare, precision strike and communications.
The helicopter trial was conducted using a rotary-wing launch platform at the Nine Mile facility. Raytheon has also described collaborative autonomy as a feature of the LE variants, allowing the aircraft to coordinate with nearby sensors and systems and adjust mission tactics using battlefield information.
Available reporting does not specify the precise scope of all three tests, the upgrades evaluated in each trial, customer participation, performance results or production and deployment schedules.