The US State Department has authorized the sale of the FS-LIDS complex for destroying kamikaze drones and other low-flying aerial targets to Qatar. The cost of the future supply is 1 billion dollars.
The package will include 200 Coyote Block 2 barrage interceptor munitions and launchers for them, CUAEWS radio-electronic warfare systems, KuMRFS multifunctional radars and optical-electronic stations for UAV detection, FAAD C2 control system. The complex will be made in a stationary version, Defense Brief reports.
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This complex has been in service with the US Army since 2018, the manufacturer is the Raytheon Corporation. Qatar became the first export buyer of FS-LIDS, it still remains unknown how much it will take to manufacture this complex.
According to its characteristics, the Coyote Block 2 kamikaze drone is basically a small-sized subsonic missile with a solid-fuel accelerator, which has a declared target range of up to 15km. It is claimed that the Coyote Block 2 can also be used as a "classic" kamikaze drone to attack ground targets.
The US tried to use the Coyote Block 1 kamikaze drone with an electric motor for FS-LIDS, which is structurally similar to the Switchblade UAV family. But while testing, it turned out that Coyote Block 1 has too little energy to hit air targets. Therefore, applying this kamikaze drone on the FS-LIDS complex had to be abandoned.
The configuration of such a complex to fight against small aerial targts looks interesting. But only those countries can afford the FS-LIDS, where there is no issue of the "economic" efficiency of air defense. And who do not face the dilemma to destroy an air target worth $20,000, a missile worth $100,000 must be used.
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