Kodiak Robotics

Kodiak Robotics emerged as an unexpected participant in the US military's counter-drone push when Epirus selected it as the autonomous driving partner for the Leonidas AGV platform, unveiled at AUSA Global Force in March 2026. The vehicle integrates Epirus's high-power microwave weapon with Kodiak's self-driving stack, with General Dynamics acting as prime platform integrator. The arrangement underscores how Silicon Valley autonomy firms are being drawn into defence programmes as the Pentagon accelerates energy-weapon fielding.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Kodiak Robotics develops autonomous driving technology for long-haul trucking. Its core product, the Kodiak Driver, uses a hardware-agnostic software platform designed to retrofit a range of commercial truck chassis. The company has logged millions of miles in commercial freight operations, primarily on Texas freight corridors, and has secured contracts with logistics partners including US Foods and Bridgestone. Unlike some rivals, Kodiak pursued a dedicated trucking focus rather than branching into passenger vehicles.

The Leonidas partnership signals a broader shift in defence procurement: purpose-built military autonomy is increasingly supplemented by dual-use commercial technology adapted for battlefield roles. For Kodiak, the contract diversifies revenue beyond commercial trucking and validates its stack in high-reliability environments. It also positions the company within a growing cluster of US firms — alongside Epirus and General Dynamics — developing autonomous ground platforms for the counter-drone mission.