US Army Receives Epirus Leonidas Counter-UAS Prototype

Epirus said its Leonidas air defense solution designed to defeat drone swarms has cleared a U.S. Army acceptance test, allowing the company to deliver the first prototype of the system to the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office.

Completing the testing event validated that the Indirect Fire Protection Capability – High-Power Microwave system can ensure personnel safety, advancing the technology from a science and technology prototype to an operational capability, Epirus said.

The Army will conduct additional testing and evaluation of IFPC-HPM to mature the technology and inform tactics, techniques and procedures before its deployment on the battlefield.  

Epirus built the Leonidas prototype under a $66 million contract the Army awarded in December 2022 following government-sponsored test events, where Leonidas demonstrated lethality against drone swarms and electronic systems. 

The HPM system was deemed a leading kinetic and directed energy solution to counter hostile unmanned systems over other similar systems, the company said.

Epirus is required to deliver three more Leonidas-based weapon systems to the RCCTO.