The Vampire: A drone that terrifies enemies and assists Ukrainians

It has long been a nightmare for the occupiers. It operates both day and night. It performs a wide range of tasks. Yet, at times, it is referred to as 'she'—the 'Baba Yaga,' a fearsome witch from folklore—which only adds to its terrifying reputation.

This is the Vampire, a high-tech unmanned aerial system (UAS) developed in Ukraine. The drone system has been codified by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and is being procured for units of the Defence Forces. Its effectiveness has been proven in over 1 million combat missions.

Thanks to this, the Vampire has earned a reputation among military personnel in combat brigades, units, and services as a versatile and highly effective asset.

Structurally, it is a very large hexacopter—a drone equipped with six rotors. It can carry a payload of up to 15 kg over a distance of 20 kilometers. With high resistance to electronic warfare (EW) systems, a proprietary GNSS antenna, and a bispectral camera, the Vampire can conduct missions both day and night. Additionally, it features an autonomous return mode in case of signal loss, significantly reducing the risk of losing the drone, which is valued at approximately $10,000.

The drone’s design enables swift customization to meet specific mission objectives and crew needs. Its modular payload and delivery system can accommodate various types of munitions, including TM, PG-7, SVP, etc.

Primarily, the Vampire is deployed as a bomber to strike enemy forward lines, destroying equipment, fortifications, and personnel. During round-the-clock hunts for occupiers and their equipment, drone operators have destroyed high-value enemy systems such as Borisoglebsk, Zoopark-1, Solntsepyok, and more.

Thanks to its capabilities, the Vampire UAS is also used for remote mine-laying, improving communications, and supporting humanitarian missions. For instance, Ukrainian defenders used it to deliver water, food, and medical supplies to people cut off from communications and crossings after the russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.