MELBOURNE, Fla., — June 11, 2026 : L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a U.S. Army contract worth up to $106 million to supply its VAMPIRE™ counter-unmanned aerial systems (c-UxS), supporting the U.S. military’s efforts to strengthen defenses against hostile drones.
The contract is part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s layered counter-unmanned systems strategy, aimed at protecting military personnel, infrastructure, and critical assets from evolving drone threats.
The VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) is a self-contained weapons system that combines intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities with precision strike functions. It is designed to detect, track, and engage drones, remotely piloted aircraft, and certain ground-based threats.
A key feature of the system is its rapid deployment capability. VAMPIRE can be installed on the cargo bed of nearly any tactical or civilian vehicle with a flat surface in about two hours. The system operates using an independent power supply and does not require integration with a vehicle’s electrical system. It can be operated by a single person and is typically equipped with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) or other laser-guided munitions.
Recent upgrades include the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to improve target detection and tracking. The system also incorporates L3Harris WESCAM MX-Series electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and electronic jamming capabilities to enhance counter-drone performance.
“We’ve worked with the Army to understand their needs for new counter-UxS systems that can be quickly assembled, delivered, set-up and fired,” said Tom Kirkland, President of Targeting & Sensor Systems, Communications & Spectrum Dominance at L3Harris. “VAMPIRE is effective at hunting and engaging drone threats affordably, which enables U.S. armed forces to sustain reliable defense of its personnel and infrastructure.”
L3Harris developed the VAMPIRE prototype in 2021 and accelerated investment in the system following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The platform was selected as part of a U.S. security assistance package for Ukraine in 2022 and has been used extensively in European combat operations since 2023, accumulating more than 350,000 operational hours.
To meet growing demand, L3Harris launched a high-volume VAMPIRE production line in Huntsville, Alabama, in March 2026. The facility is designed to increase production capacity for U.S. and allied military customers.
The latest Army order highlights the increasing focus on cost-effective and scalable counter-drone capabilities as militaries worldwide seek to address the growing use of unmanned aerial systems on the battlefield.
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