Chandler, Arizona – 29 May 2025: Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE: NOC] successfully launched two GQM-163A “Coyote” supersonic sea-skimming targets from the Hebrides Launch Facility in Scotland as part of Formidable Shield 2025, NATO’s premier live-fire missile defence exercise.

Designed to emulate advanced anti-ship cruise missile threats, the GQM-163A travels at over Mach 2.5 and flies just 15 feet above sea level, providing a high-speed, low-altitude challenge for air and missile defence systems. The exercise, conducted over three weeks, tested the interoperability of multiple NATO allied naval, air and ground forces under realistic operational conditions.

“Traveling 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,” said Robin Heard, Director, Targets at Northrop Grumman. “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.”

Proven Performance and Production

Since the programme’s inception in 2000, Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 190 Coyote targets under 17 full-rate production contracts, with over 135 launches conducted in support of critical missile defence demonstrations. The GQM-163A remains the only U.S.-manufactured supersonic sea-skimming target, and is a programme of record for the U.S. Navy.

Northrop Grumman’s advanced target vehicles feature solid-fuel, air-breathing ducted rocket propulsion, integrated into compact, threat-representative airframes. These systems form part of the company’s broader offering in advanced avionics, modular enhancement kits, and payload integration, enabling rapid configuration against evolving adversary capabilities.

With nearly 100,000 employees and 30 million square feet of manufacturing space, Northrop Grumman continues to set the pace for innovation in national security, investing heavily in infrastructure, R&D, and a robust supply chain to deliver on future defence needs.