The live-fire exercise is designed to test and improve allied anti-ship cruise missile defence systems across a range of operational scenarios. It brings together allied ships, aircraft, and ground forces over three weeks of coordinated action across the battlespace.
The GQM-163A is the only supersonic sea-skimming target manufactured in the United States and is a programme of record for the U.S. Navy. It provides a cost-effective means to simulate advanced supersonic anti-ship cruise missile threats for training and evaluation purposes.
Robin Heard, director of targets at Northrop Grumman, stated: “Travelling at twice the speed of sound, GQM-163A targets play a crucial role in refining U.S. and allied Navy missile defence capabilities because they simulate realistic threats to challenge the systems and warfighters responsible for countering adversary attacks.” He added: “Exercises like Formidable Shield are invaluable opportunities to prepare the multinational force for potential operational threats, improve interoperability and demonstrate the capability of the joint force in can’t-fail environments.”
The GQM-163A is powered by a solid-fuel, air-breathing, ducted rocket propulsion system and can reach speeds over Mach 2.5 while flying just 15 feet above sea level. Since being awarded the initial production contract by Naval Air Systems Command in 2000, Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 190 Coyote targets.
To date, the company has received 17 full-rate production contracts and launched over 135 Coyote targets in support of missile defence demonstrations. Northrop Grumman’s targets are engineered to emulate customer-specified adversary capabilities, preparing forces for emerging threats.
Northrop Grumman is recognised as a leading provider of threat-representative target vehicles used in missile defence system testing. Its expertise spans advanced avionics, solid rocket motors, adaptable vehicle kits, and specialised payloads to replicate complex threats rapidly and effectively.
With nearly 100,000 employees and more than 30 million square feet of manufacturing space, Northrop Grumman maintains the scale and agility to deliver defence solutions swiftly. The company continues to invest in U.S. infrastructure, research and development, workforce training, and its supply chain to meet both current and future national security needs.
