Epirus is set to deliver a new drone zapper, known as the Leonidas Expeditionary, to the Marine Corps by the end of the year. This high-power microwave weapon prototype is developed under a $5.5 million contract as part of the Defense Department’s Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm (ExDECS) initiative, involving collaborations with the Office of Naval Research, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, and Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office.
The U.S. military seeks more effective and cost-efficient methods to counter enemy drones, particularly those deployed in swarms. With rising concerns regarding drone warfare, recent guidance from Marine Commandant Gen. Eric Smith underscores the necessity of enhancing counter-drone technologies. The military is incorporating modern warfighting concepts, like “stand-in forces” and expeditionary advanced base operations, which expose troops to threats from enemy unmanned systems.
Gen. Smith emphasized the importance of learning from operational experiences in various conflict zones, advocating for continued experimentation and investment in Ground-Based Air Defenses, including Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS). Epirus’ new system is a compact and lightweight version, built on the technologies from Leonidas’ high-power microwave products. Other prototypes derived from this system have been integrated into the Army’s and Navy’s defense initiatives.
The Leonidas Expeditionary, designed for versatility, can be mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle trailer, significantly enhancing mobility. A spokesperson from Epirus explained that this system is a scalable version of existing high-power microwave technologies, reducing the risk of operational failure through its Line Replaceable Amplifier Module (LRAM) architecture. This structure enables effective performance even in adverse conditions, showcasing Epirus’ innovation in microwave weapon systems.
While specific size and weight details of the Leonidas Expeditionary remain undisclosed, the contract mandates the delivery of one prototype to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren for testing later this year. By the end of 2024, it will be transferred to the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab for further field evaluation. The future implementation plans involve integrating this technology with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) and conducting multi-platform experimental tests in expeditionary environments.
Overall, the advancement of the Leonidas Expeditionary reflects a significant step in modernizing military capabilities to effectively counter emerging drone threats, thereby enhancing the U.S. Marine Corps’ Ground Based Air Defense systems.
