The Navy issued a notice on Monday that it intends to award Northrop Grumman [NOC] a delivery order to conduct a study aimed at improving the performance of the Coyote targets used in weapons testing.
This specifically covers “non-recurring engineering efforts to perform a study to increase the performance envelope of the GQM-163A Coyote Supersonic Sea-Skimming Targets (SSST).”
The Navy expects to award the contract in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, with the work set to last for 12 months. The notice did not disclose a contract value or the specific date it intends to award the order.
The GQM-163A is a surface-launched aerial target used to support weapon system tests and evaluations and fleet training.
Previously, the Navy awarded Northrop Grumman a $79 million modification in 2022 for 28 Coyote sea skimming targets as part of the full rate production Lot 16 set (Defense Daily, Oct. 2022).
The Navy first awarded a contract for these targets in 2000, with the first GQM-163A launched in 2003.