Ukrainian forces have released a short video showing what appears to be the first combat interception of a Russian Kh-69 stealth cruise missile using the U.S.-made VAMPIRE counter-UAS system.
The video, published by the Ukrainian military, shows the system engaging an incoming aerial target during a recent Russian missile strike on Ukraine. Though the military provided no details, the footage clearly displays the operator interface of the L3Harris Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment — or VAMPIRE — system.
The interface seen in the clip matches earlier footage of VAMPIRE operations released by the manufacturer and U.S. defense officials. A bright reflection point can be seen on the target moments before the launch, indicating laser guidance used by the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). The reflected laser spot suggests that Ukrainian forces were using low-cost, laser-guided 70-mm rockets to engage the target.
The Kh-69, Russia’s newest stealth-optimized air-launched cruise missile, has been used from Su-57 fighter jets in several recent strikes on Ukrainian targets. It is designed to reduce radar visibility and fly at low altitude, making interception by traditional air-defense systems more difficult.
The footage indicates that the VAMPIRE’s laser-guided munitions were able to track and destroy this target, suggesting a new application of the system beyond countering drones.
Developed by L3Harris, the VAMPIRE system is a compact, palletized launcher that can be mounted on any flatbed truck. It is designed for rapid deployment — reportedly in under two hours — and can be operated by a single person. The system uses laser-guided APKWS rockets to engage drones and other low-flying threats.
The system’s effectiveness against a stealth-profile missile like the Kh-69 would demonstrate an important new capability for Ukrainian air defenses, showing how adaptable Western-supplied systems can be when integrated into Ukraine’s layered defense network.