L3Harris has begun “high-volume production” of its VAMPIRE counter-drone system at its Huntsville, Alabama, facility.
VAMPIRE, which stands for Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment, has a plug-and-play design that enables it to be mounted on several platforms to detect and engage aerial threats.
The company’s latest production line is equipped with a flexible assembly, testing, and installation area that can integrate VAMPIRE into ground vehicles and containerized weapon systems, meeting the rising demand for counter-drone tools.
“We’re making every effort to put these effective, combat-proven systems on the frontline as fast as possible to save lives,” said Tom Kirkland, President of Targeting and Sensor Systems, Communications & Spectrum Dominance at L3Harris.
Flexible Counter-Drone System
The US ordered 14 VAMPIRE systems bound for Ukraine in 2023, and followed up with additional orders two years later to support European operations.
In 2025, VAMPIRE expanded into different variants targeted toward land, naval, aerial, and electronic warfare domains, and incorporated a new suite of sensors powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Also in the same year, it was integrated into GM Defense’s Infantry Squad Vehicle.
More recently, VAMPIRE fired Thales’ FZ275 70mm laser-guided rockets against ground targets in a demonstration, highlighting its ability to rapidly equip new weapons to meet operational needs.
