Epirus
US defence company; builds Leonidas high-power microwave counter-drone systems for the US military.
Last refreshed: 4 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Leonidas beat laser systems in the Army E-HEL competition with its swarm-defeat microwave approach?
Latest on Epirus
- What is Epirus Leonidas weapon system?
- Leonidas is Epirus's high-power microwave counter-drone system. It uses wide-beam microwave energy to defeat drone swarms simultaneously, unlike laser weapons that must dwell on individual targets.Source: Epirus / AUSA
- Epirus Leonidas AGV autonomous drone defence?
- The Leonidas AGV integrates Epirus's HPM system on an autonomous ground vehicle, with General Dynamics as platform integrator and Kodiak Robotics providing autonomous driving. Unveiled March 2026.Source: Epirus / AUSA Global Force
- Epirus vs AeroVironment counter drone directed energy?
- Epirus uses high-power microwave for area denial against swarms; AeroVironment's LOCUST X3 uses laser for precision point intercept. The Army E-HEL competition will determine which approach wins production contracts.Source: AUSA / Army Recognition
Background
Epirus is a US defence technology company specialising in high-power microwave (HPM) directed-energy systems for counter-drone and electronic warfare applications. Its flagship product, the Leonidas system, has progressed through several generations from truck-mounted to vehicle-integrated form. At the AUSA Global Force conference in Huntsville, Alabama in March 2026, Epirus unveiled the Leonidas AGV, an autonomous ground vehicle variant developed with General Dynamics as platform integrator and Kodiak Robotics providing autonomous driving.
Epirus was founded in 2018 and has raised over $250 million in venture and strategic funding. Unlike laser-based systems, Leonidas uses microwave energy to simultaneously defeat multiple targets in a wide beam pattern, providing area denial against drone swarms rather than single-point intercept. This distinguishes it from laser weapons like AeroVironment's LOCUST X3, which must dwell on individual targets.
The company competes directly in the US Army E-HEL (Enduring High Energy Laser) competition expected to select a winner in Q2 FY2026, alongside Raytheon, L3Harris, and others. The Leonidas AGV's autonomous mobility positions Epirus in the emerging market for uncrewed counter-drone platforms that can operate within contested environments without exposing operators.
