Оксана СтепураWeapon
7 September 2026, 14:04
2026-09-07
VAMPIRE missile systems will receive AI to shoot down drones from Shield AI. It can recognize a target as small as 2x2 pixels
The VAMPIRE missile systems used to shoot down drones in Ukraine will receive an AI-based system from the US company Shield AI. It will be able to find drones on camera video, distinguish them from other objects and help the operator track their movement. This could be especially useful for combating jet drones, because the earlier the system notices them, the more time will be left for interception.
The VAMPIRE missile systems used to shoot down drones in Ukraine will receive an AI-based system from the US company Shield AI. It will be able to find drones on camera video, distinguish them from other objects and help the operator track their movement. This could be especially useful for combating jet drones, because the earlier the system notices them, the more time will be left for interception.
VAMPIRE already has optical and infrared WESCAM cameras, and the AI will constantly analyze the image from them and automatically search the sky for potential targets. The AI system should notice even very distant targets. A Shield AI representative told Tectonic Defense that their Tracker is able to determine whether an object is a drone, even when it occupies only 2x2 pixels in the image. The system should also filter out birds, clouds, and other obstacles.
Additionally, radar doesn't have to be turned on to find drones. The cameras simply watch the sky, so the system can operate passively and not emit radio signals that could potentially give away its position.
Back in 2025, the companies tested Tracker with WESCAM cameras. At the time, they said the system could detect various types of UAVs at greater distances than existing solutions, for example when the drone was difficult to see because it was blocked by buildings or clouds. Now, they plan to install the technology directly on VAMPIRE.
The VAMPIRE itself is a relatively compact air defense system that can be mounted on a pickup truck or other vehicle with a cargo bed. It uses 70mm laser-guided APKWS missiles, and its launcher holds four missiles.
Earlier, dev.ua wrote that Shield AI is also working with Ukrainian drones. In March, the company announced a partnership with Brave1 and plans to integrate its Hivemind AI platform into Ukrainian UAVs. It allows drones to autonomously perform complex tasks even without communication, as well as work together in a swarm.
