US Navy expects to complete delivery of VAMPIRE CUAS to Ukraine this month
VAMPIRE CUAS will be delivered to Ukraine. (Photo: US Navy)
As the Ukraine continues to battle against Russia’s use of UAS in a range of sizes, the VAMPIRE CUAS will be used against higher-tier UAVs with the inclusion of a fuzed warhead.
The US Navy (USN) has said that it expects to deliver the last of the L3Harris Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE) CUAS to Ukraine this month and the first-ever Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) with proximity fuze warheads for use with the system.
The system and warheads will be provided as part of a DoD aid package with the support of the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike programme office (PMA-242). The proximity fuze incorporates an RF sensor that enables APKWS to target Group 2 and Group 3 UAVs.
The USN and army have traditionally used APKWS against air-to-ground targets and with VAMPIRE, the laser-guided rocket can defend against uncrewed aerial threats.
Fourteen systems are being delivered by PMA 242 and the first four systems were delivered in the space of six months.
PMA 242 officials said the fast delivery of the system was done with the use of ‘innovative contracting strategies’ and ‘early reports indicate the weapon system is having an immediate impact in the ongoing Ukrainian wartime effort’.
The system has been described by the company as a ‘suitcase-type APKWS launcher and designator kit [which] provides a rapid solution for arming non-tactical vehicles and a variety of tactical vehicles, while integrating components to customer-specific specifications’.
More from Land Warfare
-
![NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet]()
NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet
VAMTAC vehicles are expected to replace one-quarter of New Zealand’s Pinzgauers and Unimogs.
-
![Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024]()
Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024
Elbit Systems has signed another US$967 million in orders in the past three months after reporting its land revenues increased by 24% for 3Q2024 compared to 3Q 2023 thanks to increasing ammunition and munition sales in Israel.
-
![BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles]()
BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles
BAE Systems has been contracted to install modifications on older versions of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) creating the M2A4 and M7A4 and keeping the platform in service until 2050.
-
![Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks]()
Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks
The contract is for the supply of a variety of military logistic platforms equipped with tactical cabins and based on the new range of IDV SMR6 trucks (Standard Military Range), which includes 4×4, 8×8 and 10x10 variants.
