L3Harris Technologies announces maritime variant of VAMPIRE C-UAS system

Melbourne, Florida-based L3Harris Technologies has expanded its VAMPIRE Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS), which it says demonstrates the company’s ability to defeat small UASs accurately and affordably. The expanded family of systems now includes specialized variants for land, maritime, air and electronic warfare operations, the company says.

VAMPIRE is a self-contained platform that delivers advanced reconnaissance and precision strike capabilities against UASs, L3Harris Technologies says. The system has supported European combat operations since 2023 and the new maritime variant, dubbed Black Wake by the company, is designed to reduce the cost of engaging small UASs and Fast Attack Craft (FAC) and can be used aboard crewed or uncrewed vessels.

Using VAMPIRE, the cost of a single engagement drops below US$30,000 ($45,000), far below the cost of a RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) which, at around US$1.795 million ($2.74 million) each, is about the cheapest US-made anti-air and -missile weapon that arms many western warships.

As previously reported in EX², the BAE Systems Advanced Kill Precision Weapon System (APKWS) is the chosen munition: this is a laser-guided version of the Hydra 70mm rocket. Because it is laser-guided it can engage moving targets on the surface as well as UASs. The system also uses the WESCAM MX-10D infrared and laser sensor and target designator. VAMPIRE can also use RF jammers and Directed Energy (DE) weapons if required.

“VAMPIRE users have successfully shot down hundreds of enemy drones,” said Jon Rambeau, President, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. “Compared to traditional missile systems, VAMPIRE greatly reduces the cost per effect to defend against drone attacks.”

L3Harris says it has also incorporated additional sensor capabilities, precision weapons, electronic jammers and non-kinetic effects for use across several domains. The system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to more swiftly detect, engage and defeat small and elusive unmanned threats. VAMPIRE is one of several programs inside the company’s broader C-UAS initiative, L3Harris adds.