Aviation News – The U.S. Navy has selected L3Harris Technologies to deliver its VAMPIRE™ counter-unmanned systems (C-UxS) to support the nation’s expanding counter-drone defense network. The strategic selection provides naval forces with a low-cost, self-contained precision strike platform capable of defeating remotely piloted threats across multiple operating domains.
The contract marks a key expansion for L3Harris Technologies, which already supplies VAMPIRE units to the U.S. Army and international partners. The procurement addresses urgent military requirements to shield fleet assets, coastal installations, and littoral combat units from persistent drone threats. As unmanned aerial and surface platforms proliferate, defense agencies are accelerating the deployment of modular countermeasures to secure maritime environments.
Earlier this year, L3Harris advanced its counter-drone portfolio by unveiling Wraith Shield™ software. This technology turns tactical radios into sensors to identify and disable small unmanned threats. When integrated alongside VAMPIRE platforms and Drone Guardian® systems, it establishes a multi-layered defense network capable of defeating complex, coordinated drone attacks.
The VAMPIRE platform operates as an all-in-one, palletized weapon architecture that integrates targeting sensors and precision-guided rockets onto standard military or commercial vehicles. The system uses advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors to track low-flying targets, giving operators rapid target designation capabilities in contested environments. Its compact footprint allows naval crews to rapidly deploy kinetic and non-kinetic effectors without heavy modifications to host vessels.
“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 of Targeting & Sensor Systems, Communications & Spectrum Dominance at L3Harris. “We’re engineering new capabilities to adapt to our customers’ missions and ruggedizing VAMPIRE against the environmental stresses of maritime environments.”
The adoption of VAMPIRE by the U.S. Navy signals a permanent operational shift toward flexible, cost-effective counter-drone platforms across naval fleets. Armed services will increasingly combine software-defined sensors with modular weapons to counter low-cost autonomous threats.
The U.S. Navy’s choice of L3Harris Technologies reinforces the critical role of adaptable, palletized weapon systems in modern air defense. Integrating VAMPIRE alongside Wraith Shield software equips forces with a adaptable counter-drone barrier. This development ensures American naval assets maintain strong protection against evolving unmanned threats across global waterways.
