VAMPIRE anti-UAV system
Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletised ISR Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE) is a family of portable, modular weapon systems developed by L3Harris primarily to Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and other low-flying aircraft, but is capable of multiple functions. The VAMPIRE system acts as a low-cost countermeasure against drones, reducing the need for more expensive interceptors. In March 2026 high-volume production of VAMPIRE systems began in Huntsville, Alabama.
Also recorded as VAMPIRE
VAMPIRE anti-UAV system
- Field
- surface-to-air missile system
- Region
- United States
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wikidata · Q114805374
In this article
Design
Design
The VAMPIRE is a portable kit and can be installed on a wide variety of vehicles with a cargo bed or fixed position. The base VAMPIRE system consists of a four-round launcher LAND-LGR4 launcher for 70 mm laser-guided rockets, primarily the APKWS II, electro-optical/infrared modular sensor ball such as WESCAM MX-RSTA, and a laser designator elevated on a telescoping mast as well as a self-contained power supply and a control system. Later variants use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms from Shield AI that allows detection and identification of drones from a greater distance. The AI integration makes the VAMPIRE capable of targeting UAVs from Groups 1 to 3, even small targets such as FPV drones. Other variants include electronic warfare and base defense turrets.
2022 Russo-Ukrainian war
2022 Russo-Ukrainian war
Several systems were supplied to Ukraine in 2022 as part of a US$3 billion aid package by the US. Ukrainian VAMPIRE systems use both the APKWS II and Thales 70 mm FZ275 LGR rocket with an FZ123 warhead.
Variants
Variants
• VAMPIRE Stalker XR: Enlarged launcher with 12 missiles. • VAMPIRE CASKET (Containerized Anti-drone System with Kinetic Effects Turret): Containerized version. • VAMPIRE BAT (Base Anti-drone Turret): Static turret with a missile launcher replaced with a machine gun. High-power microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon option under development. • VAMPIRE Black Wake: Variant mounted aboard uncrewed surface vessels. • VAMPIRE Dead Wing: Variant for attack helicopters such as the Apache. • VAMPIRE Killcode: Variant that replaces kinetic weapons with an electronic warfare system.
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- United States
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article VAMPIRE (weapon), revision 1368311611 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.L3Harris Ramps Up Production for Counter-Unmanned Systems L3Harris® Fast. Forward. www.l3harris.com.
- 2.Rogoway, Tyler. What The VAMPIRE Weapon System The U.S. Is Sending To Ukraine Can Actually Do. The War Zone. 26 August 2022.
- 3.Trevithick, Joseph. First Look At Laser-Guided Rocket Counter Drone System Blasting A Russian Drone. The War Zone. 2024-02-12.
- 4.McLaughlin, Bud. Bite Of The VAMPIRE: L3Harris Ramps Up Counter-drone Production In Huntsville - Huntsville Business Journal. huntsvillebusinessjournal.com. 25 March 2026.
- 5.Newdick, Thomas. Entire Family Of VAMPIRE Counter-Drone Systems Unveiled. The War Zone. 9 October 2025.
- 6.Buchaniec, Catherine. 'Vampire' to transform Ukraine pickups into deadly missile launchers. C4ISRNet. 25 August 2022.
- 7.Newdick, Thomas. Thales Anti-Drone Rockets Now Being Used In Ukraine. The War Zone. 2025-10-07.
- 8.Rockets by Thales for Ukraine will be equipped with a new warhead. Militarnyi.
References
Citations
References
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authority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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