2014 Russia-Ukraine War

APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine fielded APKWS-guided 2.75-inch rockets through U.S.-funded laser-guided rocket systems and VAMPIRE counter-UAS launchers delivered for wartime air defense.

Weapon profileAPKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets
SideUkraineRoleAir DefenseForce Protection
APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets, Guided rocket munition family, Munitions - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: APKWS II launching in WTI [Image 6 of 15]

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
The United States funded laser-guided rocket systems and VAMPIRE counter-UAS systems for Ukraine under USAI in August 2022.

Sources: Nearly $3 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine

L3Harris' Ukraine VAMPIRE contract selected APKWS rockets for Ukraine and planned 14 systems on U.S. government-provided vehicles.

Sources: L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts

NAVAIR documented VAMPIRE platforms with four-shot APKWS launchers shipped and delivered to Ukraine's ground forces for counter-UAS use.

Sources: Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine

L3Harris said VAMPIRE had immediate impact in Ukraine and that APKWS was selected specifically for use in Ukraine against ground and aerial targets.

Sources: L3Harris VAMPIRE System Helps U.S. Navy Fill Ukraine's Counter UAS Gap

L3Harris later described VAMPIRE as used in Ukraine and linked Hydra 70 rockets with APKWS guidance kits and L3Harris fuzes to counter-UAS use.

Sources: Fuzing Technology is Key to Defeating Drones

Timeline

APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. U.S. announces laser-guided rocket systems for Ukraine

    The Department of Defense listed VAMPIRE counter-UAS systems and laser-guided rocket systems in a USAI package for Ukraine.

    Sources: Nearly $3 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine

  2. VAMPIRE contract identifies APKWS for Ukraine

    L3Harris announced a contract for 14 VAMPIRE systems and said the APKWS rocket was selected specifically for use in Ukraine.

    Sources: L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts

  3. First VAMPIRE systems shipped

    NAVAIR's official caption identified a VAMPIRE rocket-launching platform shipped to Ukraine in June 2023, with four-shot APKWS launchers.

    Sources: Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine

  4. Navy reports delivery nearing completion

    NAVAIR reported that 14 VAMPIRE systems would be delivered to Ukraine's ground forces and that APKWS proximity-fuze warheads were planned for the counter-UAS mission.

    Sources: Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine

  5. L3Harris reports all VAMPIRE systems delivered to DoD

    L3Harris said all systems had been installed and delivered to DoD in support of Ukrainian defense efforts, with APKWS selected for use in Ukraine.

    Sources: L3Harris VAMPIRE System Helps U.S. Navy Fill Ukraine's Counter UAS Gap

  6. L3Harris describes Ukraine counter-UAS fuze use

    L3Harris said VAMPIRE was used in Ukraine and described the Hydra 70 rocket with APKWS guidance kit and L3Harris fuze as a counter-UAS effector.

    Sources: Fuzing Technology is Key to Defeating Drones

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets appear in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through U.S. security assistance to Ukraine and the VAMPIRE counter-UAS launcher program. On August 24, 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package that included VAMPIRE counter-unmanned aerial systems and laser-guided rocket systems among capabilities to be procured for Ukraine.

L3Harris later identified the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System rocket as the munition selected specifically for the Ukraine VAMPIRE package. NAVAIR described the delivered VAMPIRE system as a truck-mountable platform with a sensor ball and four-shot APKWS launchers, and said the laser-guided rocket could defend against unmanned aerial threats.

Sources: Nearly $3 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine, L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts, Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine

Timeline

The documented sequence starts with the August 2022 U.S. assistance announcement and moves through contract, delivery, and fielding milestones in 2023. L3Harris announced a $40 million Department of Defense contract on January 6, 2023 for 14 VAMPIRE systems, with APKWS rockets selected for Ukraine and deliveries planned in two batches that year.

NAVAIR reported on December 6, 2023 that the Navy would complete delivery of the VAMPIRE systems to Ukraine that month. Its report also said the first four systems had been delivered in six months and that follow-on APKWS proximity-fuze warheads were planned for the counter-UAS mission.

Sources: Nearly $3 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine, L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts, Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine

Operational role

In Ukrainian service, the public record ties APKWS guided rockets chiefly to mobile air defense and force protection rather than to aircraft-launched close air support. NAVAIR said Ukraine's VAMPIRE systems were for targeting and neutralizing UAVs and defending against ground threats, while L3Harris said VAMPIRE allowed Ukrainian ground forces to target enemy drones and protect against attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The sources separate transfer and fielding from incident-level combat claims. They support U.S. procurement, delivery to Ukraine, Ukrainian ground-force use, and the intended counter-UAS role; they do not publicly identify Ukrainian units, exact operating locations, individual drone shoot-downs, or a verified number of APKWS rockets fired in Ukraine.

Sources: L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts, Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine, L3Harris VAMPIRE System Helps U.S. Navy Fill Ukraine's Counter UAS Gap, Fuzing Technology is Key to Defeating Drones

Configuration in Ukraine

The Ukraine VAMPIRE package used APKWS-class laser-guided rockets on a vehicle-mounted launcher. L3Harris described VAMPIRE as a portable kit installed on U.S. government-provided vehicles, with a mission-management system integrating a WESCAM MX-10D RSTA targeting sensor and a weapons station.

For the counter-UAS mission, NAVAIR and L3Harris highlighted proximity-fuze work for APKWS. NAVAIR said the first APKWS proximity-fuze warheads for VAMPIRE were planned for delivery after the December 2023 launcher deliveries, and L3Harris later described its fuze as turning a Hydra 70 rocket with an APKWS guidance kit into a counter-UAS effector.

Sources: L3Harris Receives VAMPIRE Contract for Ukrainian Security Defense Efforts, Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine, Fuzing Technology is Key to Defeating Drones

Images

Conflict Context

VAMPIRE rocket-launching platform prepared for shipment to Ukraine
NAVAIR identified this VAMPIRE rocket-launching platform as shipped to Ukraine in June 2023; the system used four-shot APKWS launchers.

Sources: Navy to complete rapid delivery of new counter-UAS system to Ukraine

Related Weapons by Role

2.75-inch rockets, Unguided 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, MunitionsMunitions2.75-inch rocketsUnguided 2.75-inch air-launched rocket familyThe 2.75-inch rocket family covers the U.S. 70 mm unguided aerial rocket line from early FFAR/Mk 4 and Mk 40 rockets through the modern Hydra-70/Mk 66 system. Army and GD-OTS sources describe a modular air-launched rocket used with multiple warheads from fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, while official U.S. military sources document 2.75-inch rocket use from Vietnam and Desert Storm through Iraq, Afghanistan, Operation Inherent Resolve, and U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Hydra-70 rocket system, 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, MunitionsMunitionsHydra-70 rocket system2.75-inch air-launched rocket familyHydra-70 is the U.S. 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family managed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. Official sources describe it as a lightweight, multi-mission rocket family built around the MK66 motor, mission-specific warheads, and seven- or 19-tube launchers; cataloged conflict evidence includes U.S. transfers to Ukraine, Apache and Marine attack-helicopter use in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve, and Apache employment in the 1990 Gulf War.
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Sources