Orbital Sciences Corporation has been awarded a production contract by the US Navy for seven Coyote supersonic sea-skimming target (SSST) vehicles and related equipment.

The $26.4m order is the fifth full-rate production contract following a successful five-year development and flight test programme. It brings total orders for the programme to 89, of which, 53 have been delivered.

The Coyote target missile design integrates a four-inlet, solid-fuel ducted-rocket ramjet propulsion system into a compact missile airframe.

The range of the target vehicle system is approximately 50nm at altitudes of less than 20ft above the sea surface.

Work on the contract will be carried out at the company’s facility in Arizona, US.