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Unmanned Systems

Demand Signal For L3Harris’ Vampire Counter-Drone System Exceeds $1 Billion, Executive Says

By Cal Biesecker

Friday, May 15th, 2026

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Demand Signal For L3Harris’ Vampire Counter-Drone System Exceeds $1 Billion, Executive Says

L3Harris VAMPIRE in live fire demonstration. Photo: L3Harris Technologies

An affordable counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) L3Harris Technologies [LHX] began developing five years ago that Ukrainian forces have used since 2022 to fend off Russian drone attacks has a kill rate over 80 percent--a rate that has helped drive demand for the VAMPIRE to $1 billion-plus, a senior company official said last week. VAMPIRE includes sensors to detect and track targets, launch tubes, and BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) that costs between $30,000 and $35,000 per shot…

Congress

Key Defense Committee Members Face Tight Midterm Races, Including HASC GOP’ers In Virginia

As the mid-term elections near with polls showing an increasing likelihood of a switch in majority control in the House and potentially the Senate, three Virginia Republicans on the House […]

‘Theoretical Potential’ to Achieve 1,509 Combat-Coded Fighters by 2035, USAF Says

In the latest U.S. Air Force fighter force structure report submitted to Congress, the service speaks of a “theoretical potential” to achieve a goal of 1,509 combat-coded fighters in the […]

Budget

Hegseth Pushes For Reconciliation With At Least $350 Billion For Defense ‘Regardless’ Of Midterms Outcome

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday the Trump administration plans to continue its push for at least $350 billion in defense funds via the reconciliation process “regardless of what happens […]

Congress

Bipartisan Push in Senate to Hasten Export of 155 mm, GMLRS, HIMARS for Ukraine

A small, bipartisan group of senators is backing the Fast Tracking European Investment in Ukraine’s Defense Act, S. 5175, to hasten the export of allied buys of U.S. munitions for […]