The US Department of State announced that a $2.1 billion sale of the FS-LIDS C-UAS system to the UAE, with Coyote Block 2 interceptor UAVs, was approved.
In the wake of Iran’s extensive deployment of long-range kamikaze UAVs that have caused damage to the infrastructure in the UAE, a large-scale sale approval for the FS-LIDS has been announced by the US authorities.
The approved sale, valued at $2.1 billion, includes:
-10 batteries of FS-LIDS C-UAS systems
-240 Coyote Block 2 high-speed interceptor UAVs with quad launchers
-KuRFS Ku-band AESA radars
-EO/IIR sensors
FS-LIDS is the fixed version of the LIDS C-UAS system, which mainly employs RTX’s Coyote Block 2 interceptor UAV (Four each launcher) directed by the KuRFS radar.
Coyote Block 2 blurs the line between an UAV and a missile due to its configuration and high speed provided by the turbojet engine (Compared to the more common interceptor UAVs using four propellers). The loitering munition capable of a speed of 555 km/h and a range of 15 km uses an mmW radar seeker to acquire targets.
In addition to operational deployment in the Middle East by the US Forces, Qatar is known to be the first export customer of FS-LIDS.
Alongside FS-LIDS, M-LIDS was developed as an all-in-one system where a RCWS with Coyote Block 2 and the gun of preference (M230LF, M2, M240...) and a mast-mounted KuRFS are present.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
