U.S. Orders Additional VAMPIRE Air Defense Systems Used in Ukraine

L3Harris Technologies has signed a new contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to supply additional VAMPIRE air defense systems, the company said in an official press release.

The order follows previous deliveries of VAMPIRE systems in 2023 to support operations in Europe.

Details of the new contract, including its value, delivery timeline, and final recipient, were not disclosed.

“L3Harris’ VAMPIRE has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective response to the growing counter-UAS threat on the global battlefield,” said Tom Kirkland, Vice President and General Manager, Targeting and Sensor Systems, L3Harris.

On June 8, it was reported that the U.S. redirected 20,000 APKWS laser-guided missiles — originally slated for delivery to Ukraine — to U.S. Air Force units in the Middle East.

These missiles are component of the VAMPIRE system.

The decision has raised concerns among pro-Ukraine lawmakers in Congress, who criticized the Pentagon for not providing a clear explanation for the change, either in terms of the impact on Ukraine or the urgency of Air Force needs.

Skepticism over the move has grown following the temporary truce in May between the U.S. and Yemen’s Houthi forces.

Some analysts speculate that the newly ordered VAMPIRE systems could be destined for U.S. forces in the Middle East rather than Ukraine.

VAMPIRE

The VAMPIRE mobile air defense system is a recent development, with testing starting in 2021. L3Harris continued trials into 2022, focusing on range and system reliability.

The system integrates BAE Systems’ 70mm APKWS guided missiles with a WESCAM MX-10 electro-optical targeting module, combining thermal and television cameras for detection, targeting, and launch.

Each launcher carries four missiles and is designed to intercept aerial threats with high precision.

The system is modular, vehicle-mounted, and can be deployed using both military and civilian platforms. All operations are controlled directly from the vehicle cabin.