L3Harris adapts VAMPIRE air defense system for use at sea

The American company L3Harris is adapting the VAMPIRE (Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) air defense system to naval platforms.

Defense Scoop writes about this with reference to the company’s representative, Jon Rambeau.

The company is reportedly seeking to integrate VAMPIRE into various types of vessels, including crewless ones.

According to Rambeau, the company has already created algorithms for using the system at sea and is awaiting testing.

Vampire

The Vampire mobile system is a relatively new development that began testing in 2021. In the summer of 2022, the company continued testing, focusing on the range of targets and the system’s overall reliability.

The anti-aircraft system is equipped with a guided weapon that integrates the WESCAM MX-10 optoelectronic system with thermal and television cameras to detect targets, guide missiles, and launch them. The launcher is designed for four 70-mm guided missiles.

The system is based on the BAE Systems-manufactured APKWS guided missile. It is equipped with a remote detonator that ensures effective interception of air targets.

The system has a portable design and can be mounted on various vehicles, including civilian off-road vehicles. The system is controlled directly from the vehicle.

Application in Ukraine

The United States has supplied Vampire to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The systems are actively used to counter enemy drones of various types.

In Ukraine, they are installed on various types of civilian off-road vehicles and army HMMWVs. In February, it was reported that the Ukrainian military published footage of the system for the first time.

Then the Ukrainian Navy press service published footage of a repulsed Russian air attack, during which one of the navy’s units shot down a Shahed-136 drone using an unnamed system.

The rather unusual principle of guiding an anti-aircraft missile by a laser beam and a specific interface made it possible to conclude that the video shows footage of the Vampire SAM from L3Harris.