HPM system to support JIATF-401 evaluation of directed energy in domestic airspace
The Department of War (DoW) announced the selection of Epirus' Leonidas high-powered microwave (HPM) system for participation in their directed energy (DE) pilot program. Established by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, the pilot program accelerates use of advanced technology to protect U.S. airspace from drones.
Under the leadership of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), and with other federal partners including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Northern Command, and other military partners, Leonidas will undergo an operational assessment to apply common sense updates to permit employment of advanced technology HPM in domestic airspace to ensure that the airspace will remain safe from potential drone incursions.
"Directed energy gives commanders a scalable, safe, and effective way to respond to drone threats," said Brigadier General Matthew Ross, Director of JIATF‑401. "This pilot program will give us vital information in a real‑world environment so we can employ these systems to protect the homeland."
Building on that layered defense approach, Leonidas uses HPM technology to disable unmanned aircraft systems with non‑kinetic effects. It can counter single drones or coordinated swarms, delivering a scalable and repeatable defensive solution without relying on kinetic intercepts. Within a layered architecture, Leonidas fills a flexible role, complementing sensors, interceptors, and high‑energy lasers to give commanders an additional option against a wide range of drone threats.
"Effective counter-UAS defense at DoW facilities in the U.S. and abroad is a critical element of modern and future force protection. As threats from drones continue to proliferate, our nation must create a path to deploying directed energy at scale to defeat advanced small UAS threats and swarms. The directed energy pilot program does just that, and we are proud to be participating," said Andy Lowery, Epirus CEO. "Our unique solid-state HPM technology provides the Department a critical non-kinetic capability to protect installations, assets, and personnel against emerging threats."
As the pilot moves forward, Epirus will collaborate with the DoW and JIATF‑401 to support testing and operational evaluation. Epirus' participation reflects the company's commitment to advancing directed energy capabilities and ensuring systems like Leonidas are ready to strengthen homeland defense.
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.
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