Ukrainian air defense system “Vampir” allows budget-friendly destruction of Russian drones

In a recently published selection of videos, the Naval Forces of Ukraine highlighted the success of the “Vampire” anti-aircraft missile system in countering Russian attack drones.

The footage shows at least eight confirmed interceptions, demonstrating the low-cost system's ability to effectively neutralize drone threats.

The VAMPIRE L3Harris system, a compact and versatile defense platform, uses Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided missiles. Originally developed for air-to-ground strikes by US forces, these missiles have proven highly effective against unmanned drones. The system is mounted on flatbed trucks and includes a sensor ball for targeting and four launchers for APKWS missiles, making it a mobile and adaptable solution for the protection of drones.

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The introduction of the VAMPIRE system allowed Ukraine to use an affordable but accurate weapon against the growing threat of drones from Russian forces. Each laser-guided missile offers a cost-effective method of neutralizing drones.

The Ukrainian Navy released a new large compilation of VAMPIRE SAM system hits on Russian attack drones.

Seen below, at least 8 intercepts of Russian drones using low-cost, US-supplied APKWS laser-guided rockets. pic.twitter.com/NVwlGtD7XC

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) October 11, 2024

The VAMPIRE air defense system has quickly become an important asset in our defense strategy, especially in the fight against Russian drone warfare tactics. Its accuracy and adaptability allowed it to intercept threats at a much lower cost than traditional surface-to-air missiles.