Raytheon unveils Coyote interceptor upgrade with solid-rocket motor

Raytheon has expanded its Coyote counter-drone product line with the launch of the Block 2C+RM. The new model abandons the previously utilized turbojet engine in favor of a solid-rocket motor, a change that company officials state provides significantly faster launch capabilities and higher flight speeds.

This shift in propulsion technology prioritizes immediate interception capability over endurance. Unlike the turbojet-powered Block 2 models, which can loiter in the air and re-engage targets if an initial interception attempt fails, the solid-rocket version is optimized for rapid engagement. Raytheon clarified that the new variant is intended to supplement, rather than replace, existing platforms within the Coyote family.

In addition to the propulsion update, Raytheon has upgraded the system's seeker and warhead components to counter increasingly sophisticated drone threats. The Coyote system remains a core component of the U.S. Army’s Low-tier Integrated Air and Missile Defense System (LIDS). Following an $5 billion multi-year contract awarded in 2025, production rates for the Coyote series have reportedly increased fourfold over the last 18 months.