en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. Army has signed a contract with defense company L3Harris to procure its Vampire anti-drone system, addressing the growing aerial threat.
This order, valued at up to $106 million, will integrate the Vampire system into the Army's layered defense architecture, specifically designed to counter remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft. L3Harris stated that Vampire is a fully independent platform capable of providing precision strike capabilities against drones and remotely piloted aircraft. The system can be mounted on vehicles, such as the rear of a truck, and its core components include a retractable mast, an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) stabilized targeting system, and a launcher capable of firing multiple "effectors." These effectors are typically explosive projectiles or missiles.
In the Vampire system, the primary effector used is the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which consists of a U.S.-manufactured Hydra 70 2.75-inch (70 mm) rocket equipped with a laser guidance kit. This combination appears to be a relatively low-cost drone interception solution, previously deployed by British Typhoon fighter jets in the Middle East.
L3Harris noted that Vampire features a modular plug-and-play design, allowing for the rapid addition of other sensors, effectors, and radio management systems. The system can engage aerial targets at distances of up to 6 kilometers (3.8 miles). Its laser designator can mark targets and coordinate with other platforms for distributed target engagement.
Tom Kirkland, President of L3Harris' Targeting and Sensor Systems division, stated that the company worked with the Army to understand its requirements for new counter-UxS systems that can be quickly assembled, delivered, deployed, and fired. He believes Vampire can effectively track and engage drone threats in a cost-effective manner, enabling U.S. armed forces to reliably protect their personnel and infrastructure.
According to L3Harris, the Vampire system was initially developed in the early stages of the Ukraine war to provide a low-cost solution against Russian drone threats. Subsequently, the company established a new production line in Huntsville, Alabama, to meet the growing anti-drone demands of the U.S. and its allies. Since 2023, the system has accumulated over 350,000 operational hours in support of European combat operations.
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