Simply put
- Epirus, a defense company based in Los Angeles, has created Leonidas, an advanced microwave weapon that disables swarms of drones without the need to fire projectiles.
- This system utilizes a broad microwave beam to quickly incapacitate the electronics of drones, making it an effective defense against mass attacks.
- The Pentagon is currently exploring its potential use to combat the threat posed by coordinated drone operations.
Modern battlefields are becoming increasingly crowded with inexpensive, high-speed drones. It seems like everywhere you look, there’s a swarm of them. Well, Epirus claims to have a solution: a microwave weapon that disables these drones in the air without firing a single bullet.
Leonidas, a series of advanced high-power systems developed by Epirus, employs microwaves to render drone groups and other electronic threats inoperable.
Named after the legendary Spartan king, Leonidas has generated significant interest from the Pentagon.
Unlike laser-based technologies, Leonidas uses a wide microwave beam to disable drones by targeting and destroying their electronic systems.
According to Dr. Matt Markel, the Chief Technology Officer at Epirus, the effect is immediate and doesn’t necessitate an understanding of the specific drone software or code.
“With lasers, you need to have a detailed understanding of your target to pinpoint a vulnerable area,” Markel explained. “Without that, you might just be damaging parts of the system that are irrelevant. You really need to target what’s important.”
Markel noted that microwave systems like Leonidas can cover larger areas and disrupt multiple targets without needing exact precision.
“The microwave beam is generally larger than the target, so you don’t need to fuss about selectivity, and the effects are different,” he added.
In June, Ukraine deployed a swarm of commercial drones to strike at Russian positions. Markel mentioned that this type of strategy is what Leonidas is designed to counter, and it reflects years of military planning that emphasizes redundancy and overwhelming force.
“In warfare, it’s rare to depend on a single point of failure,” he pointed out. “We don’t just send one weapon; we often deploy multiple ones to ensure backup and amplify impact. Just look at the ‘Spider Web’ approach, where numerous attacks target the same objective.”
Preparing to confront these threats requires readiness to deal with multiple attacks at once, as even a single incursion can inflict significant damage, Markel explained.
“The technology is already in place. You don’t need a thousand drones; even ten or twenty can overwhelm defenses,” he stated. “Our system is specifically engineered for that—it’s meant to tackle several threats simultaneously.”
Founded in 2018, Epirus introduced its first version of Leonidas in 2020, alongside a range of similar technological solutions.
In October 2024, the U.S. Army granted the company a $17 million contract. Just five months later, they announced a $250 million funding round to enhance production capabilities for the Leonidas high-power microwave systems.
With the aid of AI, Leonidas can monitor and neutralize multiple fast-moving threats. According to Markel, this creates an effect resembling a protective barrier.
“AI is integrated throughout the system, optimizing everything from power use to queuing sensors and suggesting the best order to engage targets,” he elaborated.
While operational specifics like range are kept under wraps, Leonidas has already participated in joint military exercises with allies.
Markel also mentioned that beyond military applications, Leonidas could assist law enforcement in neutralizing unauthorized drones near crucial government locations.
