Space technology firm Orbital Sciences has successfully launched its 40th Coyote supersonic sea-skimming target (SSST) vehicle for the US Navy.
The latest mission saw two consecutive launches of Coyote missiles from the Pacific Missile Range in Hawaii, where the missiles rail-launched from the coast and executed their planned flight patterns, delivering a successful target presentation.
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Managed by the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the Coyote programme is aimed to provide an SSST system to simulate high-speed, anti-ship cruise missiles for fleet training and weapon systems research, development, tests, and evaluation.
Orbital Coyote programme manager Keven Leith said: "Tests of this nature can be costly for customers to conduct from a logistics standpoint.
"However, the Coyote’s low production cost and outstanding operational track record have provided an excellent value for our customers."
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The Coyote programme launched the first test flight of the unguided target in January 2003, followed by six additional test-flights with enhanced capabilities later that year, and in 2004.
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By GlobalDataThe system started full operation in 2005, and has launched 40 targets so far.
It has also completed 34 low-altitude Mach 2.5-class flights since 2003. These missions included altitudes as low as 15ft, manoeuvrability up to 12 Gs of lateral acceleration, and ranges of up to 55nm.
Since 2010, the high-altitude variant of Coyote has completed six Mach 3.25-class flights, including altitudes up to 40,000ft, power dives at user-specified downward angles, and ranges up to 120nm.
The Coyote target missile is equipped with a four-inlet, solid-fuel ducted-rocket ramjet propulsion system in a compact missile airframe, while the target vehicle system has a range of approximately 50nm at less than 20ft altitude above the sea surface.
Image: The GQM-163A Coyote Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target test launch in May 2004. Photo: courtesy of US Navy.
