Non-Kinetic Coyote Defeats Swarm of Drones in US Army Test

The Coyote drone used a non-kinetic warhead to engage and take down enemy drones in the test, which took place at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Rather than utilizing contact projectiles such as bullets, the Coyote used electronic or directed energy systems.

In a statement to Inside Defense, Raytheon confirmed that the system has a “high technology readiness level.” However, the company fell short of disclosing any specifics about what type of non-kinetic technology the Coyote warhead employed.

Using a non-kinetic mechanism helps safeguard against collateral damage, including to the Coyote itself. Furthermore, this variant can be retrieved and reused without the need to leave the battlefield.

During the exercise, the Coyote engaged with 10 enemy drones of varying sizes, taking down all of them.

The test marked the first air-to-air non-kinetic drone takedown, demonstrating unprecedented survivability, recovery, refurbishment, and reusability for an unmanned aerial vehicle. Furthermore, it was the first successful Coyote Block 2 system launch.