TEWKSBURY, Massachusetts, — Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX, has secured $729 million in contracts to supply counter-drone technology to the U.S. Army, Qatar and Jordan. The awards mark the first international sales of the company’s Coyote interceptors and Ku-band Radio Frequency Sensor (KuRFS).
The contracts cover fixed-site and mobile configurations of both systems, which form key components of the U.S. Army’s Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS).
KuRFS provides 360-degree radar detection to identify and track incoming drones, while Coyote interceptors use kinetic and non-kinetic methods to neutralize individual unmanned aircraft or coordinated swarms. According to Raytheon, Coyote effectors have achieved hundreds of successful combat intercepts. LIDS also incorporates command-and-control components from other suppliers.
Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, said LIDS provides a proven, cost-effective layer of protection for allied forces. He added that the company is accelerating Coyote production to meet growing global demand and counter rapidly evolving drone threats.
Growing Demand for Counter-Drone Systems
Demand for dedicated drone defenses has increased amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and U.S.-Iran confrontations in the Persian Gulf. Iranian drone attacks that damaged infrastructure in U.S.-allied Gulf countries have further highlighted the need for systems capable of countering repeated aerial attacks.
These systems are designed to protect deployed troops, military bases, critical infrastructure, government facilities and civilian sites.
RTX is expanding manufacturing capacity and developing upgrades for the Coyote family, including faster launch times, higher speeds, and greater engagement range and altitude. Raytheon recently reported three successful tests of the Coyote Block 2C+RM variant, which features a rocket motor for faster launches and higher velocity, alongside an updated seeker and warhead. The variant is designed to remain compatible with existing launchers, radars and command systems.
Builds on Earlier U.S. Army Contract
The latest awards follow a $5.04 billion multiyear U.S. Army contract awarded in 2025 for Coyote interceptors, launchers and KuRFS radars, with work extending into the early 2030s.
Raytheon, a Virginia-based defense contractor, reported more than $88 billion in sales in 2025. The company has not disclosed the number of systems ordered under the new $729 million contracts, delivery timelines or how the contract value is divided among the U.S. Army, Qatar and Jordan.
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