Chambers provide FISTA an independent test capability to support HPM technology development alongside Army’s Air Defense community
Torrance, Calif—August 4, 2026—Epirus today announced it is supplying a radio frequency (RF) test solution for two new anechoic chambers at the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA) in Lawton-Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
The FISTA’s two new anechoic chambers, shielded, low-reflection environments for high-power microwave (HPM) and specialized RF systems testing, were built in collaboration with Epirus and modeled after the company’s Torrance, California chamber facility.
The larger, at roughly 2,800 square feet, accommodates vehicles, radar systems and other oversized test articles, while the smaller, at 600 square feet, is built for rapid-turn testing of subsystems, electronics and payloads. The chambers will be operated as a neutral testing facility to support U.S. government funded research, academic collaboration and defense industry innovation. They will support RF and HPM research and development, strengthen the local talent pipeline and expand the region’s national security sector.
U.S. Representative Tom Cole (OK-4), Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, joined Epirus and FISTA leadership for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the anechoic chambers.
"Getting our warfighters the capabilities they need starts with the ability to test and prove them under real-world conditions. The partnership between Epirus and the FISTA is another example of Oklahoma bringing together the ingenuity of our Nation’s defense industrial base and the operational expertise of the Air Defense community. This partnership model is how we transition emerging technology into fieldable solutions the Department of War can leverage to lead from the front,” said Chairman Cole.
To equip the chambers, Epirus is delivering a high-power RF test instrument, the EPW-2001, a self-contained, rack-mounted system supplied with integrated software control. The commercial amplifier enables FISTA to independently conduct specialized RF testing, characterize waveforms and evaluate HPM effects on sophisticated electronic targets. Built on Epirus’ advanced solid-state amplifier module technology, the system supports a range of test and measurement applications.
The chamber openings build on Epirus’ 2025 launch of its dedicated FISTA facility, the Epirus Immersive Innovation Center, an interactive point defense mission planning and wargaming environment to support operator level training on the Leonidas HPM platform.
“Rigorous testing is what turns emerging technology into deployable critical point defense solutions. Supplying the FISTA with a high-power RF testing capability allows engineers, researchers and Soldiers to measure real effects on real hardware and, ultimately, field capabilities faster,” said Andy Lowery, Epirus CEO.
Located in strategic proximity to the U.S.Department of War’s Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems University and the U.S. Army’s Fires Center of Excellence and Air Defense Artillery School, the Lawton-Fort Sill community brings together Soldiers, industry and academia to accelerate the testing and transition of emerging capabilities to the warfighter. This access to Army air defenders makes FISTA a premier environment for RF testing, incorporation of Soldier feedback and rapid adaptation of emerging technology to counter advanced aerial threats.
"The FISTA has never been just a building. We're a launch partner built to help technology developers and our warfighters move faster with purpose. With two new anechoic chambers and a high-power RF test asset in-house, we’re enabling our partners to build and test technologies beside the Soldiers they serve,” added Dr. Krista Ratliff, FISTA President & CEO.
About Epirus
Epirus is a critical point defense solutions company protecting warfighters, civilians and essential infrastructure from the growing threat of drones and coordinated swarms. At the core of its solutions is Leonidas, an operationally deployed, solid-state, software-defined high-power microwave platform optimized to defeat individual drones and swarms with one-to-many effects and low collateral impact. Epirus combines Leonidas with modeling and simulation, intelligent sensing, command and control and complementary effectors to provide layered, adaptable protection for fixed sites and mobile formations across defense, homeland security and commercial markets. For more information on Epirus' solutions or to request an interview with subject matter experts, please contact media@epirusinc.com.
About FISTA
The FISTA — Fires Innovation Science andTechnology Accelerator — is an innovation park located in Lawton-Fort Sill, Oklahoma, offering secure, reconfigurable office, laboratory and manufacturing space adjacent to Fort Sill. More than a facility, The FISTA serves as a launch partner for its tenants, connecting defense contractors, startups, researchers and students with funding pathways, contract opportunities and technical expertise. The FISTA operates as a public trust authority overseen by a council-elected board, a governance model built for accountability, transparency and alignment with community interests. Through The FISTA Foundation, it also supports STEM education and workforce development across the Lawton-Fort Sill region. Learn more at thefista.com.
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