Core Insights - The U.S. Army is making a significant investment of $5 billion in Raytheon's Coyote missile system, marking the largest drone order from the military to date [2] - The Coyote missile is designed for counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) missions and is a more cost-effective solution compared to existing high-priced anti-aircraft missiles [3][8] - The contract is expected to generate approximately $485 million in profit for Raytheon over its eight-year delivery period, contributing modestly to the company's annual income [11][12] Group 1: Investment and Contract Details - The Department of Defense's $5 billion order includes Fixed and Mobile Coyote Missile Launchers, Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Interceptors, and Ku-band radio frequency system radars [2] - The Coyote missile is a rail-launched variant with a range of 9 miles and an airspeed exceeding 300 mph, making it effective against drones [3] - The Coyote's cost of approximately $100,000 per unit presents a more economical option compared to the $2.1 million missiles currently used [8] Group 2: Market Context and Implications - The U.S. military faces challenges from low-cost drones used by adversaries, which can be shot down with expensive missiles, leading to economic inefficiencies [7][9] - The Coyote missile system is seen as a temporary solution while the Pentagon seeks to develop even cheaper interceptors [10] - The contract's long-term nature means that the profit impact on Raytheon's income will be gradual, with an estimated annual increase of about 1% [12]