The Ukrainian Navy’s official Telegram channel reported that a Sukhoi Su-57 multirole fighter launched a Kh-59 cruise missile at the port, which was intercepted by a surface-to-air missile fired from a patrol boat.

The Ukrainian Navy used a ship-mounted VAMPIRE SAM to intercept and destroy the Kh-59 cruise missile launched at a commercial seaport on the Black Sea.

Open-source expert links VAMPIRE to successful missile interception

On January 24, Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on multiple Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, using over 60 aerial weapons. One target was the Pivdennyi port, a key hub for exporting grain and essential goods, making it a frequent target of Russian attacks, the Kyiv Post reported.

Over the past year, the Kh-59 missile has become a frequent choice for Russian forces, with its deployment on the Su-57 Felon regularly highlighted by various observers.

The open-source military intelligence commentator Osinttechnical determined that the missile system used was the L3 Harris “Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment” (VAMPIRE) system, which deployed the laser-guided 70mm advanced precision kill weapons system (APKWS) missile.

The VAMPIRE system is a modular, portable kit that can be mounted on any vehicle with a cargo bed, whether military or civilian. Installation is user-friendly, allowing a two-person team to complete it in about two hours using standard tools.

Originally designed as ground-based, vehicle-mounted equipment, the VAMPIRE system sparked discussions in early 2024 about its potential integration with naval platforms and unmanned surface vessels (USVs), like the Magura V5 or Sea Baby drones.

Ukraine adapts patrol boat into mobile anti-missile platform

In practice, VAMPIRE has been deployed on various platforms, ranging from pickup trucks like the Toyota Tacoma to more heavily armored vehicles such as the up-armored HMMWV, demonstrating its versatile "agnostic" design.

This incident indicates that Ukraine has adapted at least one patrol boat, likely a "Small Armored Artillery Boat" (SAB), into a mobile anti-missile platform. This adaptation may help counter the threat posed by missiles like the Kh-59, which are designed to evade detection.

During nighttime or low-visibility conditions over water, the Kh-59 flies at a very low altitude of about 7 meters (23 feet) to avoid radar detection. It uses a combination of inertial navigation and a TV or electro-optical seeker for terminal guidance to its target.

Additionally, the operation's success also highlights the coordinated efforts between naval and possibly air defense units, ensuring a comprehensive response to aerial threats.

Furthermore, Ukraine’s APKWS missile, a modified air-to-surface missile (ASM), employs the WESCAM MX-10 combined thermal imaging sensor and laser designator to track the cruise missile. The SAM’s proximity fuse then detonates near the target, disabling or destroying the incoming Kh-59 missile.

This advanced targeting system enhances the missile’s effectiveness, particularly in challenging conditions like low visibility or nighttime operations, and can be of great help for Ukraine's defense efforts against missile threats.

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