VAMPIRE Counter-Drone Family Expands Across Domains

In a move that highlights how defense teams are rethinking counter-UAS, L3Harris on Thursday unveiled new variants of its VAMPIRE system that cover land, air, maritime and electronic warfare roles. The updates broaden a self-contained platform designed to detect, engage and defeat remotely piloted aircraft across multiple theaters. The expansion signals a broader push to equip the Department of Defense and allied forces with adaptable, cost-efficient options rather than a patchwork of single-domain tools.

The expanded VAMPIRE family includes six variants: VAMPIRE Stalker XR, VAMPIRE Black Wake, VAMPIRE Dead Wing, VAMPIRE Containerized Anti-drone System with Kinetic Effects Turret (CASKET), VAMPIRE Base Anti-Drone Turret (BAT), and VAMPIRE Killcode. Each variant tailors sensors, jammers and weapons for specific domains, from mobile ground platforms to shipborne configurations and fixed facilities. This diversification mirrors an industry trend toward modular systems that can be reconfigured quickly as threats evolve.

VAMPIRE BAT uses automatic weapons and non-kinetic effects to defend critical infrastructure and military installations, while VAMPIRE Killcode focuses on electronic warfare and jamming to disrupt threats. The core system pairs advanced sensors with artificial intelligence and machine learning to rapidly detect, classify and engage small unmanned threats. Operators gain a unified interface for multi-domain defense rather than juggling separate tools for air, land or sea missions.

According to ExecutiveBiz, the expanded family is part of a broader DoD and allied effort to defeat small unmanned systems more cost-effectively than traditional missile platforms. Jon Rambeau, president of integrated mission systems at L3Harris, noted that VAMPIRE users have shot down hundreds of drones in real-world operations, underscoring the platform’s cost per effect advantage and its potential to reduce overall defense expenditure.

Beyond hardware, the VAMPIRE family emphasizes smart sensing, jamming and non-kinetic effects that can be deployed across domains. The system leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to speed up threat detection and engagement decisions. This is a growing trend in counter-UAS programs worldwide, where speed and accuracy can determine whether a facility remains secure during a coordinated drone attack or routine reconnaissance mission.

The European theater has already seen demonstrations and deployments as part of ongoing Counter Unmanned Systems initiatives, underscoring a shift toward modular, multi-domain defense tools. For defense planners, the message is clear: scale, speed and cost per effect matter more than ever as adversaries pursue swarms and covert drone operations.

Variant lineup

• VAMPIRE Stalker XR mobile land platform optimized for rapid field deployment and flexible defense of high-value sites.
• VAMPIRE Black Wake maritime variant designed for shipborne or coastal engagement with robust radar and jam capabilities.
• VAMPIRE Dead Wing airborne or aerial-attack oriented configuration focused on precision effects and rapid disengagement.
• VAMPIRE CASKET Containerized Anti-drone System with Kinetic Effects Turret for modular, transportable defense in austere environments.
• VAMPIRE BAT Base Anti-Drone Turret employing automatic weapons and non-kinetic effects to shield critical assets.
• VAMPIRE Killcode electronic warfare variant using jammers to disrupt drone signaling and control links.

Why this matters for operators

For operators, the expanded VAMPIRE lineup reduces the need to buy separate systems for different theaters. A common hardware and software stack means faster deployment, simpler maintenance, and a lower total cost of ownership. It also lets security teams respond to a broader range of threats with a single, familiar interface. The emphasis on AI-driven detection ensures smaller, faster drones are identified before they reach critical zones, while non-kinetic effects provide options to neutralize threats without causing collateral damage.

From a policy perspective, the development aligns with increasing emphasis on allied interoperability. A shared platform can simplify joint exercises and procurement across NATO and partner nations, while electronic warfare and kinetic options give commanders flexibility to tailor responses based on risk tolerance and mission objectives. For defense procurement officers, the story is clear: modular, scalable, and fiscally responsible systems are gaining traction in an era of rising drone-enabled risk.

Conclusion

As drone capabilities grow and threaten diverse sectors, counter-UAS tools must evolve quickly. L3Harris’s VAMPIRE expansion illustrates a practical path toward multi-domain resilience: a single, adaptable platform that can confront air, land and maritime threats with both kinetic and non-kinetic options. For defense planners and security operators, the takeaway is unmistakable: scale matters, cost per effect matters, and speed to deploy matters even more in a rapidly changing threat landscape.