L3Harris Technologies has initiated high-volume production of its VAMPIRE counter-unmanned systems at a new dedicated facility in Huntsville, Alabama, marking a significant escalation in the company’s C-UAS manufacturing capacity in direct response to accelerating allied demand for proven drone defeat capability.

The Huntsville production line features a flexible assembly, testing, and installation area designed to integrate VAMPIRE onto ground vehicles and containerized weapon systems. The facility is built to adjust and increase output as demand evolves — an architecture that reflects the unpredictable pace of procurement driven by ongoing operational requirements rather than traditional program-of-record timelines.

VAMPIRE — Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment — has been in European combat operations since 2023, where it has been used to detect, track, and defeat small drones in sustained operational conditions. That combat record is the foundation of the current production push: L3Harris is not scaling a system that is still in development, but one that has already demonstrated results in the field.

The system family has expanded considerably since its initial fielding. In 2025, L3Harris announced specialized VAMPIRE variants for land, maritime, air, and electronic warfare operations, extending the platform beyond its original vehicle-mounted configuration. The company also integrated VAMPIRE aboard GM Defense’s Infantry Squad Vehicle, adding a light, mobile ground platform to the growing list of hosts. The broader VAMPIRE C-UxS portfolio now sits alongside L3Harris systems including CORVUS-RAVEN, Nimble Finch, and Drone Guardian.

“We’re making every effort to put these effective, combat-proven systems on the frontline as fast as possible to save lives,” said Tom Kirkland, President of Targeting and Sensor Systems at L3Harris.