The Navy will full the supply of a brand new Counter-Unmanned Air System (UAS) weapon system to Ukraine this month as a part of the Division of Protection help bundle.
Final yr, the contingency operations crew for the Direct and Time Delicate Strike program workplace (PMA-242) started working an pressing requirement to ship rocket-launching platforms, referred to as Car Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Gear (VAMPIRE) methods, to help wartime efforts in Ukraine.
VAMPIRE is a compact, palletized rocket-launching platform that consists of a sensor ball and four-shot Superior Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) launchers designed to mount to any truck with a flatbed. The U.S. Navy and Military have historically used APKWS towards air-to-ground targets. With VAMPIRE, the laser-guided rocket can defend towards unmanned aerial threats.
“We delivered the primary 4 methods in solely six months by leveraging an progressive contracting technique and dealing diligently to maintain tempo with the system’s speedy improvement,” stated Cmdr. Kevin Raspet, PMA-242 international navy gross sales deputy program supervisor.
PMA-242’s Contingency Operations Case Supervisor Robert Galan stated the crew had positioned a heavy emphasis on pace to the warfighter and was in a position to discover a number of contracting authorities to streamline the method and concentrate on constructing and delivering an operationally efficient system.
In coming weeks, the PMA-242 CO crew additionally plans to ship the primary ever APKWS with proximity fuze warheads, a key enabling know-how for the C-UAS mission, Galan stated. The proximity fuze incorporates an RF sensor that permits APKWS to focus on Group 2 and Group 3 UAVs.
“Early experiences point out the weapon system is having a right away impression within the ongoing Ukrainian wartime effort,” stated Capt. Alex Dutko, PMA-242 program supervisor. “This exercise is one other instance of our crew responding to pressing necessities with unprecedented pace and agility.”
PMA-242 will ship 14 VAMPIRE methods to Ukraine’s floor forces for focusing on and neutralizing UAVs and defending towards floor threats.
