On February 11, 2026, Raytheon, a business unit of RTX Corporation, conducted a live test of its Coyote Block 3 Non‑Kinetic (NK) system at a U.S. Army site in Tucson, Arizona. The test showed the system could launch, loiter, intercept, and recover from multiple drone swarms, proving its operational readiness for future Army deployments.
The Coyote Block 3NK is engineered to defeat small to large drone systems at longer ranges and higher altitudes than comparable effectors. Its non‑kinetic payload disables drones without physical impact, allowing the system to be recovered and redeployed. This design delivers a cost‑effective, reusable defense that reduces per‑engagement expenses compared with traditional kinetic interceptors that are expended after a single use.
The demonstration is a key milestone for the U.S. Army’s Low, Slow, Small‑Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS) program, in which Raytheon holds its largest counter‑drone contract. By proving the Coyote’s effectiveness, Raytheon strengthens its position in the growing anti‑drone market, which is projected to grow from $4.48 billion in 2025 to $14.51 billion by 2030 at a 26.5% CAGR.
Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, said, “Coyote provides warfighters a cost‑effective defense for individual drones and swarms. We continue to invest in Coyote’s combat‑proven capabilities, ensuring that allies around the globe gain an affordable operational advantage over sophisticated and evolving drone threats.” The company’s continued investment signals confidence in expanding its counter‑drone portfolio and securing future contracts.
The successful test underscores Raytheon’s broader strategy of investing heavily in research and development—$7.4 billion in 2025—and its substantial order backlog, positioning the company to capture a larger share of the expanding global anti‑drone market.
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