In a move that signals a shift toward integrated, multi-domain defense, L3Harris is expanding its VAMPIRE counter-drone platform beyond land use into maritime, air, and electronic warfare contexts. The system, known for its palletized ISR rockets, fires laser-guided rounds to destroy drones and can be mounted in truck beds for rapid fielding. This evolution signals a concerted push to defend critical assets from a range of unmanned threats across environments.

L3Harris’ update introduces distinct variants designed for specific theaters. The VAMPIRE Black Wake is tailored for maritime use, offering a shipboard or pier-side platform that can counter fast, small unmanned boats and aerial threats near ports. The VAMPIRE Bat targets facility protection, delivering a compact, self-contained system that can be deployed at remote sites with minimal logistical footprint. A third variant, the VAMPIRE Casket, remains a plug-and-play solution that can be deployed in remote locations to extend coverage in contested or austere areas. Each variant maintains the core concept: rapid detection, precise engagement, and the rapid displacement of unmanned threats using a modular, palletized approach.

The upgrades hinge on a broader adoption of sensor fusion, AI-driven decision-making, and non-kinetic effects, including electronic jammers, to complicate the control links of jammers and drones while reducing collateral risk. In practice, units can be configured to respond to a spectrum of drones—ranging from curious hobbyist aerials to purpose-built reconnaissance platforms—without committing to large, custom-built systems. The emphasis on AI and machine learning enables faster clustering of sensor data, quicker target classification, and more reliable engagement decisions in cluttered environments.

Europe has already deployed VAMPIRE in some operations since 2023, and the new multi-domain variants reflect a growing demand among U.S. and allied forces for a flexible, scalable defense against small unmanned threats. The development aligns with a broader U.S. push to harden airspace and critical infrastructure through modular, interoperable systems that can be fielded with minimal platform changes. As part of an August initiative focused on countering unmanned systems, L3Harris is signaling that the technology stack will be compatible with existing networks and data links to enable joint, cross-domain defense campaigns. According to Washington Technology, the upgrades emphasize speed of fielding and cross-domain interoperability across allied forces.

For defense planners, the takeaway is clear: modular, palletized counter-UAS capabilities are moving from niche deployments to core components of multi-domain defense architectures. The ability to deploy a single system across land, sea, air and electronic warfare arenas reduces the total cost of ownership while increasing operational tempo. The VAMPIRE family demonstrates how a single platform can morph to meet diverse threats, a capability increasingly valued as unmanned threats evolve in speed, stealth and sophistication.

What it means for the ecosystem

Beyond the headline, the evolution of VAMPIRE underscores a few industry truths. First, the market for counter-UAS is maturing from standalone drones to layered, cross-domain defense grids. Second, the reliance on AI and sensor fusion is here to stay, driving faster kill chains and reducing decision latency on the battlefield. Third, defense contractors are pursuing modularity and exportability, ensuring that capabilities can scale from a single facility to a networked defense system spanning a port, a ship, or an air base.

Sub-title: Real-world implications

For operators, the latest VAMPIRE portfolio promises a more adaptable defense posture with fewer bespoke builds. For policymakers and buyers, the trend signals increased emphasis on interoperability standards and transparent testing protocols to build trust across allied networks. And for the industry, the message is that modular, AI-enabled kinetic and non-kinetic options will define the next wave of counter-UAS systems.

FAQs

Q: What does VAMPIRE stand for?
A: Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment.

Q: Which domains are covered by the new variants?
A: Land, maritime, air, and electronic warfare contexts.

Q: How does the system engage drones?
A: It uses laser-guided rockets and AI-assisted sensing to detect, classify, and defeat drones quickly, with additional electronic jammers for non-kinetic effects.

Conclusion

The broadening footprint of the VAMPIRE platform marks a substantive shift in how militaries think about counter-UAS: from single-environment fixes to adaptable, domain-spanning defenses. By pairing palletized, field-ready modules with AI-driven sensing and jamming capabilities, L3Harris positions VAMPIRE as a building block for future multi-domain protection. As allied forces test and adopt these variants, the defense ecosystem will increasingly expect modularity, rapid deployment, and interoperable networks as the baseline rather than the exception.