VAMPIRE (weapon)
Portable modular C-UAS system using laser-guided rockets.
VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletised ISR Rocket Equipment) is a family of portable, modular weapon systems made by L3Harris. Its main job is to counter drones and other low-flying aircraft, though it can do other things too. The system offers a cheap way to take down drones, so militaries don’t have to rely on much more expensive interceptors.
By 2025, L3Harris could build between 20 and 40 VAMPIRE systems each month. In March 2026, the company started high-volume production of the systems in Huntsville, Alabama.
**Design**
The VAMPIRE comes as a portable kit that can be mounted on many types of vehicles with a cargo bed or in a fixed position. The basic setup includes a four-round launcher (the LAND-LGR4) for 70 mm laser-guided rockets—mostly the APKWS II—plus an electro-optical/infrared sensor ball (like the WESCAM MX-RSTA) and a laser designator on a telescoping mast. It also has its own power supply and control system.
Later versions use artificial intelligence and machine learning from Shield AI. This lets the system spot and identify drones from farther away. With the AI, the VAMPIRE can target drones from Groups 1 to 3, including small FPV drones. Other variants come with electronic warfare gear or base-defense turrets.
**Operational history**
**2022 Russo-Ukrainian war**
Several VAMPIRE systems were sent to Ukraine in 2022 as part of a US$3 billion aid package from the United States. Ukrainian systems use both the APKWS II rocket and the Thales 70 mm FZ275 LGR rocket with an FZ123 warhead.
**Variants**
- **VAMPIRE Stalker XR:** A bigger launcher that holds 12 missiles. - **VAMPIRE CASKET (Containerized Anti-drone System with Kinetic Effects Turret):** A containerized version. - **VAMPIRE BAT (Base Anti-drone Turret):** A static turret that swaps the missile launcher for a machine gun. A high-power microwave directed-energy weapon option is being developed. - **VAMPIRE Black Wake:** A variant mounted on uncrewed surface vessels. - **VAMPIRE Dead Wing:** A variant for attack helicopters like the Apache. - **VAMPIRE Killcode:** A variant that replaces kinetic weapons with an electronic warfare system.
- Production rate 2025
- 20-40 systems per month
- High volume production start
- March 2026
- High volume production location
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Rocket caliber
- 70 mm
- Launcher capacity base
- 4 rounds
- Rocket types used
- APKWS II, Thales 70 mm FZ275 LGR with FZ123 warhead
Lore & Background
The VAMPIRE system was developed by L3Harris as a portable kit that can be installed on a wide variety of vehicles with a cargo bed or fixed position. The base system consists of a four-round LAND-LGR4 launcher for 70 mm laser-guided rockets, primarily the APKWS II, an electro-optical/infrared modular sensor ball such as WESCAM MX-RSTA, a laser designator elevated on a telescoping mast, a self-contained power supply, and a control system. Later variants incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms from Shield AI, enabling detection and identification of drones from greater distances and targeting UAVs from Groups 1 to 3, including small FPV drones. Other variants include electronic warfare and base defense turrets.
In 2022, several VAMPIRE systems were supplied to Ukraine as part of a US$3 billion aid package by the US. Ukrainian systems use both the APKWS II and Thales 70 mm FZ275 LGR rocket with an FZ123 warhead. As of 2025, L3Harris was capable of producing 20-40 systems per month, and high-volume production began in Huntsville, Alabama in March 2026.
Reader's Guide
The VAMPIRE system is notable as a low-cost, portable countermeasure against drones, reducing reliance on more expensive interceptors. Its modular design allows installation on diverse vehicles, and its later AI integration from Shield AI enhances detection and targeting of small UAVs. The system saw operational use in the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war, supplied via a US aid package, where it employed both APKWS II and Thales rockets. Variants extend its utility: the Stalker XR with a 12-missile launcher, the containerized CASKET, the BAT static turret with a machine gun and an under-development high-power microwave directed-energy weapon, the Black Wake for uncrewed surface vessels, the Dead Wing for attack helicopters like the Apache, and the Killcode which replaces kinetic weapons with an electronic warfare system. Production scaling to high volume in Huntsville, Alabama in March 2026 indicates growing demand for affordable C-UAS solutions.
Did You Know?
- Later VAMPIRE variants incorporate AI and machine learning algorithms from Shield AI.
- The VAMPIRE BAT variant replaces the missile launcher with a machine gun and has a high-power microwave directed-energy weapon under development.
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