Orbital Sciences
Corporation successfully flight-tested the U.S. Navy's GQM-163A
"Coyote" Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target (SSST) system for the Naval
Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on March 24, 2005. The flight test was
conducted at the Navy's missile test range at Point Mugu in
southern California and was the fourth consecutive successful
flight in a series of progressively more demanding missions that
Orbital has carried out during the last year. Orbital was awarded a
development contract in 2000 to meet the Navy's requirement for an
affordable SSST to simulate high-speed anti-ship cruise missiles
for fleet training and weapon systems research, development, test
and evaluation.
Friday's flight test of the GQM-163A Coyote had several primary
objectives, all of which were achieved. The target missile verified
several vehicle performance standards, including the booster
ignition, stable first-stage flight, the transition of the
ducted-rocket ramjet from booster separation to started inlets, and
the ducted rocket ramjet ignition and powered flight performance.
The SSST was also flown along a simulated operational trajectory
culminating in a descent to 15 feet above the surface of the ocean
while under active control of an on-board laser altimeter, and
demonstrated threshold level horizontal weave maneuvers over the
full terminal maneuver distance required.
Captain Richard Walter, the U.S. Navy's Program Manager of
Aerial Target and Decoy Systems, said, "Yesterday's Coyote flight
was a great success. The Coyote cruised at an altitude of 50 feet
and below at a speed of Mach 2.6 and sustained continuous 10g
maneuvers at an altitude of 15 feet throughout the last 15 miles of
flight. The Supersonic Ski-Skimming Coyote will provide a excellent
testing capability of U.S. Navy ship combat systems and we look
forward to providing the fleet this test capability later this
year."
Mr. Keven Leith, Orbital's Vice President of Naval Programs,
said, "We are pleased with the progress of the GQM-163A flight test
program. This latest test flight success demonstrating the Navy's
key performance parameters represents a critical step towards
making the SSST system ready for operational status and limited
fleet deployment in the coming months."
The GQM-163A Coyote target missile design integrates a
four-inlet, solid-fuel ducted-rocket ramjet propulsion system into
a compact missile airframe 18 feet long and 14 inches in diameter.
Ramjet supersonic takeover speed is achieved using a decommissioned
Navy MK 70 solid rocket motor for the first stage. Rail-launched
from Navy test and training ranges, the highly maneuverable
GQM-163A Coyote achieves cruise speeds of Mach 2.5+ following the
separation of the MK 70 first-stage booster. The range of the
target vehicle system is approximately 50 nautical miles at
altitudes of less than 20 feet above the sea surface.
The GQM-163A Coyote program represents a significant milestone
for the American aerospace industry by achieving multiple
successful flights of a U.S.-built solid-fuel ducted-rocket ramjet.
It is also the first successful development and flight test program
of a new domestic ramjet missile configuration in over a decade.
Orbital is the only U.S. Department of Defense prime contractor to
be both developing and operating ramjet-powered missile systems. In
addition to developing the GQM-163A Coyote, Orbital provides the
Navy with launch services for the MQM-8 VANDAL SSST. The MQM-8
VANDAL is based on the liquid-fuel ramjet-powered Talos missile and
provides the Navy with a legacy SSST until the more capable
GQM-163A Coyote is determined to be operational for fleet use.
Orbital is developing and manufacturing the GQM-163A Coyote at
its launch vehicle engineering and production facility in Chandler,
Arizona. Orbital's major subcontractors include Aerojet Corporation
in Gainesville, Virginia and Sacramento, California, for the
solid-fuel ducted-rocket motor and CEi, Inc. in Sacramento,
California, for the vehicle's avionics system.
Orbital develops and manufactures small space and rocket systems
for commercial, military and civil government customers. The
company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles,
including low-orbit, geosynchronous and planetary spacecraft for
communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions;
ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into
orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and
target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical
services to government agencies and develops and builds
satellite-based transportation management systems for public
transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.