Raytheon demonstrates Coyote launched effect from helicopter for first time

The Coyote LE SR is launched from a Bell 407 at a private range in Texas in February 2025. (Raytheon)

Raytheon launched a Coyote Block II launched effect (LE) from an airborne platform for the first time, according to a 26 March announcement by the company. Additional testing is planned, although Raytheon declined to disclose the nature and timing of future tests.

The munition, which the company calls Coyote LE SR (Short Range), is based off the Coyote Block II counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) munition; the LE SR version has previously been test-launched from the ground. The munition was launched from a Fulcrum Concepts Modular Effects Launcher attached to a Bell 407 during a February 2025 testing at the Nine Mile Training Center in Texas, Brian Burton, Raytheon's vice-president for precision fires and manoeuvre, told Janes on 27 March.

“The aircraft was less of the focus, and more of being able to use the Modular Effects Launcher, because that's one of the key needs for the [US] Army,” Burton said. “One of the things that's important to us is to be able to launch off of multiple platforms, and be able to [launch from] air, ground, and sea… We had done demonstrations off the ground multiple times, and this is our opportunity to demonstrate that we could successfully launch, do stage separation, and do the flight off of that new launcher.”

LEs are designed to carry a variety of payloads, which can be swapped out according to the user's desired mission. Burton said that Raytheon's main focus with Coyote LE SR is intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in addition to strike, and may expand to electronic warfare and other missions.