Ukrainian Vampire shot down a Shahed-136 in the Odesa region
12 February, 2024 The Shahed-136 drone a moment before the anti-aircraft missile was hit in the sky over Odesa, February 2024. Photo credits: press service of the Ukrainian Naval The Ukrainian military first published footage of the Vampire anti-aircraft system, which was transferred by the United States last year.
The video was published by the press service of the Ukrainian Navy. On February 11, the Ukrainian Navy press service published footage of the repelling of a Russian air attack, during which one of the units of naval forces shot down a Shahed-136 drone using the "latest anti-aircraft missile system." The video shows an image from the optical guidance sensor, which was displayed on the control panel of the system and the process of targeting a missile at the target.
The anti-aircraft system itself is not called in the message, but the rather unusual principle of targeting an anti-aircraft missile at a laser beam and a specific interface allow us to conclude that the video is footage of the Vampire SAM from L3Harris.
Vampire is a mobile anti-aircraft system using modified APKWS 70mm rockets with a laser guidance system.
Vampire anti-aircraft missile system interface by L3Harris
This system was designed specifically for Ukraine to detect and intercept enemy drones, in particular Shahed-136.
In December last year, the United States completed the transfer of all 14 contracted systems. For the first time, the United States Department of Defense announced the start of their engagement in Ukraine on September 1, 2023. However, the video shown above is actually the first evidence of its use in combat conditions.
Vampire
The Vampire mobile system is a relatively new development.
Its field tests began in 2021 and in the summer of 2022 the company continued testing the firing range and the overall reliability of the systems. The anti-aircraft system's guided armament system integrates the WESCAM MX-10 optical-electronic sensor with thermal imaging and television cameras, responsible for target detection and guidance and launcher of four 70mm guided missiles. The basis of the system is an APKWS 70mm guided missile manufactured by BAE Systems.
It is equipped with a proximity fuse to intercept air targets. The system is portable and can be installed on various vehicles, including civilian SUVs.
And it can be controlled directly from it.