Raytheon Conducts First Helicopter Launch of Coyote Drone Interceptor

In a significant leap for air defense, Raytheon has successfully executed the first-ever helicopter launch of its renowned Coyote drone interceptor, setting a new standard for military capabilities.

The historic launch took place at the Nine Mile Training Center in Fort Stockton, Texas, showcasing a new Coyote variant, the Coyote LE SR.

Although the type of helicopter used in the demonstration was not revealed, Raytheon highlighted that the successful launch provides military forces with new capabilities to detect and neutralize battlefield threats.

“Launching the Coyote LE SR from a helicopter enhances versatility and provides significant strategic advantages,” an RTX spokesperson told The Defense Post without elaborating further.

Raytheon plans additional evaluations of the new Coyote variant later this year to assess its effectiveness in various mission scenarios.

About the Coyote LE SR

The new Coyote LE SR is a “low-cost, flexible system” that builds on the company’s combat-proven Coyote family of products.

It is designed to equip troops with a new tool to outpace constantly evolving threats.

In addition to precision strikes, it can perform reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and electronic warfare missions.

Leveraging collaborative autonomy, the system can coordinate a swarm of Coyotes or connect with nearby sensors to adjust tactics in real time, enhancing operational effectiveness.

Its sensor- and communication-agnostic architecture, based on a modular open systems approach, also allows for seamless integration of future technologies, making it adaptable to evolving needs.

“Our goal is to integrate Coyote LE SR into existing military frameworks so that training is not cumbersome,” the spokesperson noted. “We expect to see [increased] demand for Launched Effects across all service branches.”