The US Navy is deploying two UAV interceptors, Anduril's Roadrunner-M and Raytheon's Coyote, from destroyers to defend aircraft carriers from drones more cost-effectively.
The interceptors address the 'cost-curve' problem of using expensive missiles against cheaper drones, reducing the Navy's defense costs significantly.
The Roadrunner-M and Coyote interceptors are designed to autonomously engage and eliminate aerial threats, offering a cost-efficient defense mechanism.
The Roadrunner-M and Coyote are short-range loitering munitions capable of targeting drones from afar, enhancing carrier defenses against threats like Houthi drones.
Anduril's Roadrunner-M costs approximately $500,000, while Raytheon's Coyote is estimated at $125,000 per unit, significantly reducing defense expenditure.
The US Navy has tested and demonstrated these interceptors at sea, integrating them into its maritime defense strategy to protect high-value assets like aircraft carriers.
The Raytheon Coyote Block 2 and Anduril Roadrunner-M align with the Pentagon's focus on AI-driven air defense capabilities, providing effective counter-UAS solutions.
The Navy aims to mitigate its 'cost-curve problem' by deploying these affordable anti-drone interceptors that offer firepower and magazine capacity without high costs.
The US Navy has fired significant missile munitions against Houthi strikes, demonstrating the need for cost-effective defense measures like the Roadrunner-M and Coyote interceptors.
As the Navy seeks solutions to its cost challenges, employing smaller, more affordable interceptors like the Roadrunner-M and Coyote proves vital in countering evolving threats.