The Fletcher laser guided rocket launcher fires BAE’s 2.75 inch laser guided rockets known as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. (Shawn Snow/Defense News Staff). VAMPIRE includes sensors, fire control, and potentially access to sensor networks. 

Below is a news release from L3 Harris. None of the reports I have seen provides much detail. How many systems? What platform will use them? Concept of operation?

This local report does seem to suggest there are going to be lots of these systems.

The company began high-volume production of VAMPIRE at its Huntsville manufacturing facility earlier this year in response to growing demand from the United States and allied militaries. The Huntsville operation handles assembly, testing and integration of the systems.

BAE has already produced 100,000 APKWS kits and has a capacity of 25,000 per year.

That they are not being specific about where these systems are going may simply mean they are going to a lot of different types of installations–mounted on trucks, in containers, and specifically we can infer that many will be going afloat since there is specific reference to “the environmental stresses of maritime environments.”

If these are intended to protect port facilities, then perhaps in addition to Coast Guard vessels providing protection from the waterside, perhaps Reserve Port Security units may need vehicle or container mounted systems.

I also have to wonder if there will be versions with more than four ready rounds.

These systems would also upgrade even smaller cutters’ anti-surface capability providing range and hitting power comparable to a 57mm gun with great precision.

MELBOURNE, Fla., Sept. 8, 2026 — L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has been selected by the U.S. Navy to deliver VAMPIRE™ counter-unmanned systems (C-UxS) in support of the U.S.’ growing integrated C-UxS defense architecture.

The VAMPIRE system is a self-contained weapons solution that delivers advanced reconnaissance and precision strike against drones and remotely piloted platforms across domains.

“VAMPIRE is a flexible and effective system that meets the unique requirements of the U.S. Navy for littoral C-UxS defense,” said Tony Calderon, President, Targeting & Sensor Systems, Communications & Spectrum Dominance, L3Harris. “We’re engineering new capabilities to adapt to our customers’ missions and ruggedizing VAMPIRE against the environmental stresses of maritime environments.”

L3Harris is also delivering VAMPIRE systems to the U.S. Army. Separately, the company unveiled its Wraith Shield™ software earlier this year, which provides a radio-as-a-sensor capability to defeat small drones and can be incorporated with VAMPIRE and Drone Guardian® systems to deliver layered defense against UxS threats.