Ukraine may have used laser-guided Vampire systems for first time to destroy Shaheds - media
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Defense Express.
According to analysts, the Vampire was used, in particular, to repel a Shahed attack on the night of 11 February.
Then the press service of the Ukrainian Navy showed a video of the combat work of its air defence units. These videos are likely to show the work of the Vampire.
"At first, our anti-aircraft gunners take the enemy Shahed into their sights using an unknown optoelectronic station; after that, a rocket shell hits the Russian kamikaze drone, after which the Shahed dives into a dive and falls," analysts write.
This footage suggests that the video shows the first publicly available footage of Vampire missile launchers firing APKWS guided missiles. The delivery of all 14 units was scheduled for the end of 2023.
What is known about the Vampire system
The Vampire is a US anti-aircraft missile system designed to combat drones, which was first tested in 2021. The system is portable. It can be mounted on most vehicles with a cargo body (for example, an SUV).
Vampire is equipped with a launcher and 70mm laser-guided APKWS missiles.
As for the APKWS missiles, the range of their firing in the surface-to-air mode is currently unknown. However, in the ground-to-ground mode, the distance is 4-5 kilometres, and in the air-to-ground mode - up to 11 kilometres. The cost of one APKWS missile is up to $40,600 per unit.
