COUNTER SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM INTERCEP

The COUNTER SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM INTERCEPT program, as outlined in Army budget line item 9216C82200, is a key component of the Army's efforts to modernize its air and missile defense capabilities. This line item specifically supports the procurement of interceptors designed to counter the growing threat posed by small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), particularly Groups 1 through 3, which represent a range of small, low-cost drones increasingly used in both surveillance and attack roles by adversaries.

The primary goal of this program is to provide the Army with effective kinetic and non-kinetic interceptors, such as the Coyote system, to detect, track, classify, evaluate, and defeat sUAS threats. The Coyote interceptor is a ground-launched, radar-guided system available in both kinetic and non-kinetic variants. The kinetic variant is equipped with a turbine engine, forward-firing warhead, and onboard radio frequency seeker, enabling high-speed and maneuverable engagement of Groups 1-3 UAS. The non-kinetic variant is designed to defeat multiple Group 1 and 2 UAS threats in a single engagement, offering flexibility and efficiency in countering drone swarms.

This line item supports the Army's response to the Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON) CC-0558, which was initiated in June 2016 to address the rapid proliferation of small UAS threats. The Army Requirements Oversight Council approved the C-sUAS Capability Development Document (CDD) Increment 1 in November 2021, establishing requirements for a C-sUAS capability at the operational division level, now referred to as C-UAS Batteries. The Chief of Staff of the Army accelerated procurement of these systems, recognizing the urgency and criticality of the capability.

In March 2022, the Army Acquisition Executive authorized the use of the Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) pathway for five separate Acquisition Category III programs, including the Coyote interceptor, to meet the C-sUAS CDD requirements. Following a program initiation briefing in May 2024, the Coyote program was approved for entry into the MCA pathway at the post-Full Rate Production (FRP) stage, reflecting its maturity and readiness for broad deployment.

The Coyote Interceptor system includes both the interceptor and its launcher, which are configured for both expeditionary and mobile platforms. This flexibility allows the Army to deploy the system rapidly in a variety of operational environments, enhancing force protection and adaptability. The system is intended to be fielded at the battery level, providing direct support to operational units facing sUAS threats.

Prior funding for C-sUAS intercept procurement was allocated under different line items, specifically 0173BZ0501 (Indirect Fire Protection Family of Systems) and 0219AD0500 (Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System). For FY 2026, funding was transferred from this line item (C82200) to OTHER PROCUREMENT, ARMY (OPA) BA 6, I24000 COUNTER-SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (C-SUAS) to support Agile Portfolio Management, reflecting a shift in budget structure to better align with evolving acquisition strategies.