Northrop Grumman wins contract to procure 28 GQM-163A Coyote supersonic targets to US Navy.

According to information published by the US DoD on October 21, Northrop Grumman is awarded a $79,278,808 modification (P00011) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N0001921C0005).
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GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea-skimming target. (Picture source: US Navy)

This modification exercises an option to procure 28 GQM-163A Coyote supersonic sea-skimming targets and associated technical and administrative data in support of full rate production Lot 16 deliveries for the Navy.

Work will be performed in Camden, Arkansas (43%); Chandler, Arizona (35%); Vergennes, Vermont (8%); Cincinnati, Ohio (4%); Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (4%); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (4%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (2%), and is expected to be completed in March 2026.

Fiscal 2023 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $50,964,948; and fiscal 2022 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $28,313,860 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

About the GQM-163A Coyote targets

The GQM-163 Coyote is a supersonic sea skimming target built by Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK) and used by the United States Navy as a successor to the MQM-8 Vandal.

Orbital's proposal was chosen over the MA-31, a joint venture between Boeing and Zvezda-Strela. Orbital was awarded their contract for the development of the Coyote SSST in June 2000.

The Coyote is initially boosted by a Hercules MK-70 booster, of similar design to those used by the now obsolete RIM-67 Standard ER missiles. After the booster stage is expended the missile switches to an Aerojet MARC-R-282 solid-fuel rocket /ramjet engine for sustaining its flight.