Epirus delivered to the United States Army the first high-power microwave system (HPM) with the capacity to protect against indirect fire (IFPC for its acronym in English), designed to counter swarms of enemy drones. The prototype, obtained from various counter electronics equipment Leonidasis the first of four that the company will deliver on the technology Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (Rccto)as part of the award of a contract signed in December 2022.
The technology company carried out the distribution of the weapon after completing the acceptance test of the US government sponsored by the National Armed Forces, where the security of the system for personnel and the continuous improvement of HPM functions are confirmed, by the state of scientific and technological prototype to full operational capacity.
Leónidas HPM Systems
Leonidas is a counter-electronic system with the precision needed to neutralize a threat in small spaces, as well as the power needed to deactivate multiple threats in a larger area. The directed power allows for greater operator control and safety and reduces the size and weight of the solution, which can be gimbal-mounted and deployed on a base or next to a mobile unit.
The products in this range use high-power microwave technology, which is defined by software and stable conditions, to achieve great efficiency in different environments and use cases. Waveform optimization software, combined with shooting tactics, increases the range without having to redesign the hardware. Low voltages, lack of ionizing radiation, and the ability to control safe zones make Leonidas systems a safe tool for allied personnel and assets.
The solution has an open architecture, so it can be integrated with different command and control systems (C2), such as Faad C2, used by the US Army in C-UAS applications and other forms of air defense. Additionally, the design takes advantage of line-replaceable amplifier modules (LRAM), which has a method that makes it possible to create new form factors and install updates in an agile and fast way.
Also noteworthy is the layered defense capability, which can be achieved when ground systems work together with mobile and small solutions, Leonidas Pod, which combine their highly directed energy. The two systems not only interoperate with each other but are integrated into a system of systems, which includes other air defense equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic.
Maturation of C-UAS microwave technology
After delivering the initial prototype to the Office of Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies, the system will undergo further testing, to develop tactics, techniques, and methods for future use. Epirus and Rccto will continue to work together to deliver three more pieces of equipment throughout the contract and develop the maturity of this technology, implementing the necessary improvements to achieve comprehensive protection against a wide range of spectrum of UAS threats.
The CEO of the company, Ken Bedingfieldstated that “with the help of Army partners, the Epirus team was able to develop and demonstrate an unprecedented HPM capability, in a record time of just nine months. on the way to delivering a drone swarm defense capability of the United States.
