US Army to assess RTX Coyote launched effect ‘deficiencies'

The AEVEX Aerospace Atlas Group II launched effect was selected to be fielded with the US Army in 2026. (Capability Portfolio Executive Aviation)

RTX Coyote Block 3 could still be a part of the US Army's Launched Effects-Short Range (LE-SR) programme depending on the vendor's ability to correct previously identified “deficiencies”, an army spokesperson for Capability Portfolio Executive (CPE) Aviation told Janes on 20 February.

The CPE plans to award contracts as part of a stated goal to field unmanned aircraft system (UAS) launched effects (LE) to all active-duty units in the army by the end of fiscal year (FY) 2026. Altius 600, Coyote Block 3, and AEVEX Aerospace Atlas Group II LEs were delivered to units such as the 2nd Infantry Division and tested for the LE-SR in a special user demonstration in August 2025.

AEVEX's system and the Anduril Industries' Altius 600 were ultimately selected for the “initial fielding effort”, a spokesperson told Janes on 30 January.

Although a system has already been selected for initial fielding, other competitors such as RTX's Coyote Block 3 are not out of consideration for future contracts, said the spokesperson. “The army is providing another opportunity for RTX to compete in the LE-SR space,” the spokesperson added.

“An RTX fielding decision (including quantities) has not been made,” the army spokesperson said on 17 February. “That decision is dependent on vendor performance during its ‘get well' approach during the 2026 timeframe.”

In 2026, “Raytheon is validating to the army that they have fixed deficiencies identified at a previous test event”, the army spokesperson added. The service did not detail what these shortcomings were.