GQM-163 Coyote
| GQM-163 Coyote | |
|---|---|
 A GQM-163A Coyote flies over the bow of a U.S. Navy observation ship during a routine test. | |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Orbital Sciences |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 5.60m (18 ft 4.3 in) (without booster), 9.53m (31 ft 3.3 in) (incl. booster) |
| Diameter | 35 cm (13.8 in), booster: 46 cm (18 in) |
| Propellant | Aerojet MARC-R-282 solid-fueled ducted rocket/ramjet engine |
Operational range | 110 km (60 nm) |
| Flight ceiling | 50,000 feet |
| Flight altitude | 16 feet (sea-skimming) |
| Boost time | Hercules MK 70 solid-fueled rocket |
The GQM-163 Coyote is a supersonic seaskimming target built by Orbital Sciences 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. [1][2][3]