Epirus Bags $43M US Army Anti‑Drone Directed‑Energy Tech Gen II Deal
Epirus has secured a $43.55-million contract from the US Army to deliver a next-generation directed-energy weapon designed to disable drone swarms and other airborne threats.
The deal, part of a development and validation phase, covers two Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) Generation II systems, associated tests, support equipment, and spares with options for additional tests, components, and support.
The first is expected to be complete by the end of July, followed by the second at the end of August, and a third system by September, The War Zone reported.
Testing and evaluation are scheduled at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California in October. If it proves successful, the army will proceed with a formal, large-scale acquisition.
Gen II Upgrades
The Epirus Leonidas line of IFPC-HPM platforms emits long-pulse microwaves that disable the electronic systems of multiple drones simultaneously, effectively shutting them down.
It comes with a software-defined and modular architecture to meet specific threat profiles, while minimizing sustainment costs and simplifying upgrades.
The company delivered four IFPC-HPM weapons to the US Army in May 2024.
“Our first IFPC-HPM prototypes were put through the wringer and emerged from sophisticated testing with favorable outcomes,” said company CEO Andy Lowery.
“The second generation of our energy-based HPM platform and the next increment of IFPC-HPM will be even more powerful, more mission capable, and more impressive all around.”
Building on the soldier feedback of its predecessor, the Gen II system is expected to more than double its maximum effective range and increase power by a projected 30 percent.
High-density batteries will also be included to enable extended operating times. The system will feature “decreased external power requirements, extra-long pulse widths for maximizing energy output for target defeat, high-duty burst mode for faster multitarget engagement, and advanced waveform and polarization techniques,” according to Epirus.
Citing increasing drone incursions over US bases, Lowery stated, “Epirus is prepared to answer the Army’s call and rapidly produce at scale to help solve the asymmetric drone threat with our HPM technology.”
