Ukraine gets ‘Vampire’ rockets from US to combat Russia’s drones
- Short for ‘Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletised ISR Rocket Equipment’, the system is outfitted with fuses designed to detonate near unmanned aerial craft
- Russia has used drones, including the Iranian-made Shahed-136, to devastating effect in its invasion
Ukraine’s troops are now using a US rocket system known as the Vampire to destroy Russian drones, according to the Pentagon.
Produced by L3Harris Technologies Inc., the weapons are carried on trucks and allow Ukraine to defeat Russian strikes, the Pentagon’s Acquisition and Sustainment Office said.
“Initial Vampire systems have been delivered and are in operation by Ukrainian Armed Forces,” it said.
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Four of the first 14 systems put on contract in January under a US$40 million deal arrived in Ukraine midyear, according to a company newsletter to investors, with the rest to come by year-end.
The Pentagon declined to provide details on the timing of further deliveries.
Kyiv’s allies have raced to provide Ukraine with defence capabilities as Russia has used drones, including the Iranian-made Shahed-136, to devastating effect in its invasion.
Short for “Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletised ISR Rocket Equipment,” the Vampire system consists of portable kits that can be installed on US government-provided vehicles.