VAMPIRE™ C-UAS Precision Strike & ISR Weapons System

The core architecture consists of three modular blocks integrated onto a single pallet:

• The Sensor/Targeting Core: A stabilized WESCAM MX-10D RSTA or WESCAM MX-15D RSTA electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) targeting gimbal system mounted on a pneumatic, telescoping mast. It provides high-definition, long-range day/night surveillance and precise laser target designation.
• The Effector Station: A four-round launcher configured for 70mm laser-guided rockets.
• The Command & Power Block: A self-contained internal power supply (negating the need for a heavy 24V vehicle alternator alteration) running the Widow® Mission Management System - a Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAADC2) compliant software suite. 
   

The system is built around the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which upgrades conventional, low-cost 70mm (2.75-inch) Hydra-70 rockets into precise, laser-guided munitions by incorporating a guidance module in the rocket’s midsection. Its flexible design also allows integration with other laser-guided 70mm rocket options, including Belgian-produced variants from Thales.

Although APKWS was initially designed for precise air-to-ground engagements, L3Harris adapted it for counter-UAS missions by incorporating a proximity fuze into the warhead. This enhancement removes the need for a direct hit on small, rapidly moving drones; instead, the fuze triggers detonation close to the target, dispersing fragments that disable rotors and onboard electronics.

When fired from a ground-based static or mobile vehicle platform, the VAMPIRE system effectively engages and defeats aerial threats at ranges of up to approximately 6 kilometers or 3.7 miles.

It is a true multi-mission platform. If an operator is pinned down or needs to neutralize an asymmetric threat on land or sea, the WESCAM MX-Series targeting systems can paint a ground vehicle, defensive bunker or fast attack watercraft, allowing the APKWS to deliver highly accurate kinetic effects.

Traditional air defense systems can create an imbalance where high-end interceptors are used to defeat relatively low-cost one-way attack drones. This is an approach that is difficult to sustain over time. By comparison, employing APKWS from a VAMPIRE system significantly reduces the cost-per-engagement, helping restore a more favorable economic balance for the defender.

L3Harris expanded the VAMPIRE blueprint into several specialized variants utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning for faster automated threat detection and classification: 

The system runs on the Widow Mission Management System, which is fully FAADC2 (Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control) compliant. This allows VAMPIRE to serve as a plug-and-play node within a larger, layered defense architecture. It can ingest queuing data from external multi-mission radars or remote sensors, allowing the operator to track a target before it even enters the line of sight of the onboard optic.    

Multi-spectral WESCAM MX-Series sensor systems provide stabilized, high-definition daytime and mid-wave infrared (MWIR) channels, paired with an integrated laser designator and rangefinder. It features advanced auto-tracker algorithms to lock onto erratic, small-signature threats (like group 2 drones) and maintain a precise laser spot on the target despite vehicle vibration or evasive drone maneuvering.

L3Harris has incorporated a suite of AI and machine learning capabilities into the VAMPIRE system to streamline the targeting process. These algorithms help compress the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) by autonomously detecting, identifying and tracking Group 1–3 unmanned systems at extended ranges. Advanced vision processing separates drone signatures from background clutter, such as clouds, birds, or terrain obscurants, helping reduce operator workload, particularly during engagements involving dense drone activity.

View the Video: L3Harris and Shield AI Partner on WESCAM

The system’s physical footprint is designed for flexibility and ease of deployment. Built on a standard, low-profile palletized base, it only requires a stable, flat surface and appropriate tie-down points for installation. The unit operates independently, using its own integrated power supply, eliminating the need for vehicle hydraulic connections or specialized wiring.

The platform features an open munitions architecture, offering flexibility in ammunition sourcing and integration. L3Harris has successfully demonstrated this capability through live-fire tests in Europe using Thales Belgium’s 70mm FZ275 laser-guided rockets launched from an FZ605 system. This approach enables allied nations in the European theater to leverage regional supply chains for precision munitions, enhancing operational resilience and procurement flexibility.

A standard 70mm Hydra-70 rocket is inherently unguided and intended for area effects. The APKWS upgrades it into a precision capability by inserting a guidance module between the motor and the warhead. This module deploys small control surfaces that track reflected laser energy from the targeting system, guiding the rocket onto the aim point with sub-meter accuracy.

CASKET (Containerized Anti-drone System with Kinetic Effects Turret) houses the complete VAMPIRE tracking and effector architecture inside a standardized, rugged cargo container – essentially a containerized weapon system or CWS. This variant is engineered for autonomous or semi-autonomous defense at austere expeditionary outposts, forward operating bases (FOBs), or remote industrial infrastructure. The system can remain entirely self-contained and visually discreet until deployed.

The platform's vehicle-agnostic footprint allows it to move well beyond commercial trucks. L3Harris integrated the VAMPIRE system directly onto GM Defense’s Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). This pairing combines the off-road, air-droppable tactical mobility of the US Army's ISV with an immediate, organic C-UxS shield, allowing highly mobile light infantry units to maintain a kinetic perimeter against Group 1–3 loitering munitions without sacrificing speed.

Black Wake is the specialized maritime variant built to flatten the cost curve against naval threats. Tailored for installation aboard both crewed vessels and small Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), it uses the WESCAM MX-Series’ AI-enabled tracking capability to identify, lock onto, and destroy fast-moving one-way sea drones and fast inshore attack craft (FIAC) before they can impact a naval asset's hull.