U.S. Army Awards L3Harris Up to $106 Million Contract to Expand VAMPIRE Counter-Drone System Procurement
The U.S. Army has awarded L3Harris Technologies a contract worth up to $106 million to procure additional VAMPIRE counter-UAS systems, bolstering its multi-layered air defense capability. The VAMPIRE system combines EO/IR targeting sensors with laser-guided rockets, can be rapidly mounted on various vehicle platforms, and has logged over 350,000 combat hours in European operations since 2023. Full-rate production is now underway at L3Harris's Huntsville, Alabama facility.
Highlights
- The U.S. Army awarded L3Harris Technologies a contract worth up to $106 million to procure additional VAMPIRE counter-UAS systems.
- VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) integrates EO/IR targeting sensors and laser-guided rockets, deployable on multiple vehicle platforms.
- The VAMPIRE system has logged over 350,000 combat hours in European operational theaters since 2023, proving its battlefield reliability.
- L3Harris originally developed VAMPIRE using company-funded R&D at the outset of the war in Ukraine to provide a rapid, cost-effective counter-drone solution.
- Full-rate production of VAMPIRE is now underway at L3Harris's Huntsville, Alabama facility to meet U.S. and allied demand.
U.S. Army Invests Over $100 Million to Expand VAMPIRE Counter-Drone Fleet
The U.S. Army has awarded defense technology company L3Harris Technologies a contract valued at up to $106 million for the procurement of additional VAMPIRE counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), reinforcing the military's multi-layered air defense architecture against evolving drone threats.
What Is VAMPIRE?
According to L3Harris, VAMPIRE stands for Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment. It is a modular, precision counter-drone system engineered for rapid installation on a wide range of vehicle platforms, offering highly flexible deployment options in the field.
The system integrates electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) targeting sensors with laser-guided rockets, enabling operators to effectively intercept drones and other light aerial targets with precision and cost efficiency.
From Ukrainian Battlefield to U.S. Army Standard
L3Harris notes that VAMPIRE was originally developed using company-funded research and development in the early stages of the war in Ukraine, with the goal of delivering a rapidly deployable, cost-effective counter-drone solution.
To date, the VAMPIRE system has accumulated more than 350,000 operational hours in European theaters since 2023, demonstrating its reliability and effectiveness in active combat environments.
Full-Rate Production Underway for U.S. and Allied Forces
L3Harris confirmed that full-rate production of the VAMPIRE system has commenced at its Huntsville, Alabama facility, responding to growing demand from U.S. forces and allied partners. This marks the system's transition from battlefield-validated technology to large-scale fielding.
The contract award reflects the U.S. military's strategic priority to strengthen ground force counter-drone capabilities as unmanned aerial threats continue to evolve rapidly on modern battlefields.
Sources: L3Harris press release; L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
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