U.S. Army Expands Counter-Drone Defense With Combat-Proven Coyote Interceptors Against Drone Swarms.

The U.S. Army is strengthening its defenses against hostile drones and coordinated swarms with a new $729 million procurement of components for Raytheon’s LIDS counter-unmanned aircraft system, combining KuRFS radars with Coyote interceptors. The system provides 360-degree threat detection and kinetic and non-kinetic interception capabilities, with Raytheon reporting hundreds of successful combat intercepts. The contracts also include Qatar and Jordan, marking the first international sales of both technologies.

The Raytheon LIDS (Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft Integrated Defeat System) combines the KuRFS 360-degree surveillance radar with Coyote interceptors to detect, track, and defeat hostile drones and coordinated swarms. (Picture source: Raytheon)

The Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS) protects military bases, critical infrastructure, and deployed forces from small unmanned aircraft, including threats launched in coordinated attacks. The procurement covers both fixed-site and mobile configurations, expanding the flexibility of a counter-drone capability U.S. forces already use in combat environments.

At the core of LIDS is Raytheon’s Ku-band Radio Frequency Sensor (KuRFS), a precision radar designed to detect and track small aerial threats across a 360-degree surveillance area. Its high-resolution sensing supports detecting and tracking low-flying drones with limited radar signatures, including aircraft operating near terrain, buildings, and other clutter sources. This enables operators to maintain situational awareness and provide targeting information for interception.

The Raytheon Coyote is a compact, ground-launched unmanned aerial interceptor developed specifically to defeat hostile drones. Its kinetic variants use onboard guidance and a warhead to intercept aerial targets that KuRFS detects and tracks, providing a dedicated means of engaging small unmanned aircraft. Unlike conventional surface-to-air missiles designed primarily against aircraft and larger aerial threats, Coyote is optimized for counter-drone missions, including engagements against small, maneuvering targets. This allows Army air defense units to counter drone threats without relying exclusively on more expensive conventional missiles.

The Coyote family also includes non-kinetic variants designed to neutralize unmanned aircraft without conventional explosive interception. These effectors provide additional engagement options depending on the type of drone, the surrounding operational environment, and the risk of collateral damage. Raytheon says Coyote interceptors have achieved hundreds of interceptions in combat, demonstrating the operational maturity of existing variants against real-world unmanned aircraft threats.

One of LIDS's principal operational advantages is its ability to integrate detection, tracking, command and control, and interception into a coordinated defensive architecture. This is particularly important against drone swarms, where multiple unmanned aircraft may approach from different directions within a short period. Unlike isolated drone attacks, coordinated threats can challenge surveillance coverage, engagement timelines, and available interceptor inventories.

The U.S. Army integrates LIDS with the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control system, known as FAAD C2, which connects sensors and defensive weapons to support threat assessment and engagement coordination. This architecture allows operators to manage multiple aerial tracks and select available countermeasures, helping reduce reaction times against small drones that may provide only limited warning before reaching their targets.

The procurement includes fixed-site and mobile LIDS configurations intended for different operational requirements. Fixed installations provide persistent surveillance and protection around airfields, military bases, ammunition storage facilities, and other high-value locations. Mobile configurations extend counter-drone protection to deployed units and maneuvering formations, allowing air defense assets to reposition as battlefield conditions change.

The U.S. Army’s existing Mobile LIDS configuration combines surveillance, electronic warfare, and kinetic engagement equipment mounted on mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles. Its kinetic defeat vehicle incorporates KuRFS, Coyote interceptors, and a 30 mm automatic cannon, providing complementary means of engaging unmanned aircraft. This layered approach reduces reliance on a single weapon and lets defenders use different countermeasures based on the threat.

Raytheon is also developing improvements to the Coyote family intended to provide faster launch times, higher interceptor speeds, greater engagement ranges, and the ability to defeat targets at higher altitudes. These enhancements are designed to shorten the interval between detection and interception while extending the defended area. They could become particularly important against faster unmanned aircraft and coordinated attacks that compress the time available for defensive decisions.

The development effort includes the Coyote Block 2C+RM, an upgraded interceptor incorporating a new rocket motor, seeker, and warhead intended to improve performance against emerging aerial threats. Raytheon previously reported developmental testing of this configuration, including integration activities and launches using a tactical rocket motor. However, the upgraded interceptor remains under development, and Raytheon has not publicly disclosed detailed figures for its maximum speed, engagement range, altitude ceiling, or operational availability.

Raytheon has also demonstrated non-kinetic counter-swarm capabilities with its Coyote Block 3 variant, designed to defeat multiple unmanned aircraft without relying on conventional explosive interception. Its recoverable design could reduce the use of expendable interceptors during repeated engagements, although effectiveness and operating costs depend on conditions and the threat being confronted.

In its October 13, 2026 announcement, Raytheon said it is expanding production capacity and continuing to upgrade the Coyote family in response to growing demand for counter-drone defenses. Increasing production matters operationally because sustained attacks involving numerous inexpensive drones can quickly deplete defensive ammunition. Maintaining sufficient interceptor stocks is therefore essential to protect forces during prolonged operations, not isolated engagements.

The inclusion of Qatar and Jordan marks the first international sales of KuRFS and Coyote, extending access to U.S. counter-unmanned aircraft technologies in the Middle East. The acquisitions could improve protection for military installations and critical infrastructure while supporting closer defensive interoperability with U.S. forces in the region. Raytheon has not disclosed how many radars, launchers, or interceptors each customer received, delivery timelines, or how the $729 million contracts are financially distributed.

The expansion of LIDS reflects a broader shift in military air defense toward integrated, layered protection against increasingly numerous and affordable unmanned aircraft. Conventional surface-to-air missiles remain essential against higher-performance aerial threats, but using them against inexpensive drones can impose high costs on defending forces. Combining radar surveillance, electronic warfare, automatic cannons, and dedicated counter-drone interceptors provides more flexible engagement options and helps preserve higher-value air defense weapons.

For the U.S. Army, the latest LIDS procurement strengthens an established counter-drone capability while supporting the production capacity and technical improvements needed to respond to evolving aerial threats. By combining 360-degree detection, integrated engagement coordination, mobile and fixed-site protection, and combat-experienced Coyote interceptors, LIDS provides a more scalable defense against individual drones and coordinated attacks. Its longer-term effectiveness will depend on interceptor availability, continued technological upgrades, and the ability to sustain defensive operations against increasingly complex drone threats.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.