L3Harris Technologies has responded to growing demands from its partners for enhanced drone defense capabilities by introducing new variants of its “VAMPIRE” drone-killing platform. This expansion marks a significant pivot towards multi-domain operations, broadening the operational scope of the weapon systems to cover terrestrial, naval, aerial, and electronic warfare (EW) missions. Each variant is specifically designed to address various counter-drone challenges.
Among the new offerings, the Stalker XR stands out for land missions, boasting an impressive increase in firepower. It is now equipped to carry twelve kinetic munitions, a marked enhancement from its previous capacity of four. This improvement allows for extended target engagement, making it more effective in neutralizing aerial threats on the battlefield.
In addition to kinetic options, L3Harris has also released the Killcode variant. Instead of utilizing guided munitions, this version focuses on electronic warfare tactics, employing jamming technology aimed at disrupting or completely disabling incoming aerial threats. This dual approach of kinetic and electronic measures underscores the company’s commitment to providing versatile solutions to modern warfare challenges.
The developments in the VAMPIRE platform reflect a proactive strategy to meet the evolving landscape of aerial threats and respond effectively to requests from military partners for robust counter-drone capabilities. As warfare becomes increasingly complex and multi-faceted, L3Harris appears poised to position itself at the forefront of advanced defense technology.
