Microwave weapon downs 49 drones with a single blast
6 hours ago
- #directed energy weapons
- #anti-drone technology
- #military innovation
- Epirus Leonidas, a high-power microwave (HPM) anti-drone weapon, disabled 49 drones with a single shot.
- Drones pose military and civilian aviation threats due to their small size, low cost, and potential for mass deployment.
- Anti-drone weapons vary, requiring tailored solutions or layered defense strategies; no single solution fits all scenarios.
- Leonidas uses Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors for efficient, durable, and mobile microwave generation, improving on older technologies.
- Key features include software-driven waveform tailoring, human safety, extended range, and 'one-to-many' operational flexibility.
- Leonidas can precisely target hostile drones, create no-fly zones, sustain continuous fire, and neutralize swarms simultaneously.
- During a live fire exercise, Leonidas successfully disabled 61 drones, including unannounced groups and audience-selected targets.
- A single pulse from Leonidas knocked out over four dozen drones at once, demonstrating its counter-swarm capability.
- Epirus CEO Andy Lowery described the demonstration as a watershed moment, highlighting Leonidas' mission-capable performance.