Epirus Secures $250 Million for Leonidas Drone Defense System

Epirus, a defense company based in Los Angeles, has developed a high-powered microwave weapon called Leonidas. This innovative system is designed to disable drone swarms without the need to fire any projectiles. Leonidas utilizes a wide-area microwave beam that instantly disrupts the electronics of drones, making it an effective countermeasure against mass drone attacks.

Leonidas is part of a family of advanced high-powered systems developed by Epirus. The weapon is named after the famous Spartan king and has already garnered interest from the Pentagon, which is exploring its use to defend against coordinated drone threats. Unlike laser-based weapons, Leonidas employs a broad microwave beam that disables drones by disrupting their electronic systems, making it effective against multiple targets simultaneously.

According to Epirus Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Matt Markel, the effect of Leonidas is immediate and does not require detailed knowledge of a drone’s software or codebase. “With lasers, you need detailed knowledge of the target to find its vulnerable spots,” Markel explained. “Otherwise, you’re just burning a hole in a part of the system that doesn’t matter. You have to hit the parts that are critical.” In contrast, microwave weapons like Leonidas can blanket an area, disrupting multiple targets without requiring precise aim.

Markel highlighted that the technology is designed to counter the kind of attacks seen in recent conflicts, such as the use of swarms of commercial drones by Ukraine to attack targets in Russia. “In warfare, we rarely rely on a single point of failure,” he said. “We don’t just send one weapon, we often use multiple to ensure redundancy and amplify effects. We saw that in ‘Spider Web,’ where multiple attacks targeted the same objective.” Defending against these threats means being prepared to handle multiple threats simultaneously, as even a single breach can cause serious damage.

Epirus was founded in 2018 and released the first iteration of Leonidas in 2020. The company has since developed a suite of similar technologies. In October 2024, the U.S. Army awarded Epirus a $17 million contract, and five months later, the company announced a $250 million Series D funding round to accelerate the production of its Leonidas high-power microwave system. Coupled with AI, Leonidas can track and neutralize multiple fast-moving threats, creating a protective force field-like effect.

“There's AI throughout the system. We make sure to get the most out of every device—whether that's power efficiency or how we cue sensors and recommend the optimal order to prosecute targets,” Markel said. While Epirus keeps operational details, like range, under wraps, Leonidas has already participated in joint military exercises with U.S. allies. Beyond military use, Markel suggested that Leonidas could help law enforcement neutralize unauthorized drones near government sites, among other applications.