Epirus announced on 14 February the introduction of Leonidas Pod, a first-to-market, solid-state, multiple shot high-power microwave (HPM) system that can be mounted on drones to hunt other drones and the latest addition to the company’s suite of advanced electronic warfare (EW) solutions.
Epirus’ Leonidas family of products utilize software-defined HPM technology to unlock unprecedented EW capabilities. Leonidas ground-based systems allow for defensive 360-degree forward operating base protection from incoming threats. The newly introduced Leonidas Pod enables a range of mission capabilities and, with multiple mount options to maximize portability, can advance directly to the threat environment. With Leonidas deployed alongside a drone-mounted Leonidas Pod, the systems work in unison to achieve greater power and range and create a layered defense forcefield.
The company states that its Leonidas systems are not constrained by magazine depth nor capacity and offer a far more cost-effective solution to countering electronic threats as compared to kinetic approaches, which can cost millions for a single munition. Epirus HPM achieves rapid firing on any target with near-instant effects, without reloading or overheating. Both Leonidas and Leonidas Pod are interoperable by design and their scalability allows for seamless compatibility with partner systems in support of a fully integrated counter-electronics kill chain.
“Epirus’ revolutionary approach to power management has ushered in breakthrough electronic warfare systems to fill immediate capability gaps. With the continued advancement of Leonidas and now with the rapid commercialization of Leonidas Pod, Epirus continues to prove that lasting innovation does not have to take decades,” said Andy Lowery, Chief Product Officer, Epirus. “We look forward to working with our partners as we continue to drive mission success, support critical national security efforts and expand into new markets.”
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of a number of recent wins for Epirus. In December 2021, the company was awarded a multi-million-dollar contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) to develop software that enables more accurate prediction of electromagnetic waveform behaviors. The next month, in January 2022, Epirus was one of four companies selected to the Army Application’s Laboratory Solider Power Cohort to develop intelligent power management solutions for the U.S. Army.
Epirus will be participating in the 32nd Annual AFCEA West Conference in San Diego, California (February 16-18, 2022) to showcase scaled prototypes of Leonidas and Leonidas Pod at Booth 2241. The company announced that it is set to deliver its third ground-based Leonidas article this year, with new features, greater power and enhanced counter-electronics effects.
