Focus - Epirus

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This series offers a deep dive into the world of defense startups. Each issue provides critical analyses and comprehensive reviews of emerging companies and products that are set to revolutionise battlefield tactics.

Epirus: Leading the Charge in Directed Energy and Counter-Electronics Warfare

Founded in 2018, Epirus is a rapidly emerging defense technology company focused on delivering innovative High-Power Microwave (HPM) solutions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Epirus is redefining modern warfare with its non-kinetic systems designed to neutralize electronic threats, such as drone swarms, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and other electronic devices. At the core of its product line is Leonidas, a cutting-edge directed-energy weapon capable of generating powerful electromagnetic pulses (EMP) to disable electronic systems. With a focus on scalability, AI-driven technologies, and modular design, Epirus is setting a new standard for counter-electronics warfare.

Core Product Offerings

Epirus' product suite is centered around the Leonidas family, a series of directed-energy systems that leverage advanced solid-state technology to neutralize electronic targets. These systems are designed to address a variety of mission needs, including counter-UAS, electronic warfare, and critical infrastructure protection. The family includes the Leonidas, Leonidas Mobile, and Leonidas Pod variants, each offering unique capabilities and deployment options to provide unmatched flexibility and performance.

Leonidas: Core System for Counter-Electronics Warfare

The flagship product, Leonidas, is a solid-state, long-pulse HPM system engineered for maximum efficiency and flexibility in counter-electronics warfare. Leonidas is designed to handle multiple simultaneous threats, such as drone swarms, by emitting powerful electromagnetic pulses that disable electronic systems instantly, without relying on physical interceptors.

Key Features:

• Solid-State HPM Technology: Using Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors, Leonidas achieves high-voltage operation while minimizing its size, weight, and cooling requirements. This compact form factor enables rapid deployment and increased mobility compared to older HPM systems.

• Software-Defined Architecture: Leonidas is a software-driven system that continually refines its waveform and pulse output. This ensures increasing precision with each deployment, allowing operators to neutralize threats with optimized power and range without the need for hardware upgrades.

• Modular & Scalable: By utilizing Line Replaceable Amplifier Modules (LRAMs), Leonidas can be quickly adapted for different missions. This modularity ensures future scalability and quick updates, extending the system's operational life while maintaining cutting-edge effectiveness.

• Human Safe: With low voltages and no ionizing radiation, Leonidas is safe for use around human operators and friendly assets. The system features software-controlled safe zones, allowing for precision strikes while ensuring minimal collateral damage.

• Open API for Integration: Leonidas’ open architecture allows it to integrate seamlessly with Command & Control (C2) systems, such as FAAD C2, used by U.S. and NATO forces. This makes it highly adaptable for various defense networks, ensuring it can be deployed efficiently across different operational environments.

Operational Efficiency: Leonidas addresses a critical cost and capability gap in modern warfare. With drones becoming increasingly inexpensive and mass-produced, traditional kinetic systems are becoming less cost-effective. The U.S. has historically spent millions on intercepting drones, whereas Leonidas offers pennies-per-kill efficiency, and its unlimited magazine ensures uninterrupted operations without the need for resupply.

Leonidas Mobile: Versatile, Mobile Counter-UAS Platform

Leonidas Mobile brings the core capabilities of Leonidas to the battlefield with a fully mobile counter-electronics solution. Designed to be easily mounted on any vehicle or integrated onto a hitch, Leonidas Mobile offers unprecedented maneuverability and mission flexibility, making it a revolution in electronic warfare.

Key Features:

• Vehicle Integration: The system can be installed on a wide range of vehicles, giving ground forces the ability to deploy counter-UAS and counter-electronics capabilities on the move. This enables continuous protection for maneuvering units in contested environments.

• Rapid Deployment: Designed for fast setup, Leonidas Mobile can be deployed and operational within minutes, offering immediate defense against emerging drone threats.

Leonidas Pod: Lightweight, Portable Solution

The Leonidas Pod provides an ultra-flexible, lightweight option for counter-electronics missions. Designed to meet the needs of airborne and remote operations, the Pod combines the long-pulse HPM technology of the core Leonidas system with a form factor that allows for easy integration into a variety of platforms, including drones, helicopters, and other aircraft.

Key Features:

• Compact & Portable: Despite its smaller size, the Leonidas Pod delivers the same high-power microwave capabilities as its larger counterparts. Its portability allows for rapid deployment in difficult-to-access areas or on airborne platforms.

• Flexible Mounting Options: With multiple mounting configurations, the Pod can be used on ground vehicles, fixed locations, or integrated with UAVs, offering comprehensive flexibility for mission commanders.

• Mission-Adaptive: The Pod’s adaptability makes it ideal for use in critical infrastructure protection, border security, and forward operating bases, offering a lightweight solution that can be deployed wherever it is needed.

Key Benefits of the Leonidas Family

Epirus has engineered the Leonidas product line to not only deliver superior performance but also address some of the key challenges in modern warfare, such as cost, mobility, and adaptability.

• Size, Weight & Power (SWaP): Unlike older HPM systems that are large, bulky, and require extensive teams to operate, Leonidas uses solid-state technology to significantly reduce its size and operational footprint. This enhances the system’s versatility and ease of deployment in diverse combat environments.

• Cost-Effective: Leonidas drastically reduces the cost-per-kill ratio compared to traditional kinetic interceptors, offering a cost-efficient solution to the U.S. military’s drone defense challenges. With no physical projectiles required and an unlimited magazine, the system ensures minimal operational overhead.

• Modular & Scalable: By leveraging LRAMs and a modular design, Leonidas can be quickly upgraded and scaled to meet evolving threats. This reduces lifecycle costs and enables rapid adaptation to new battlefield challenges.

• Software-Defined, Future-Proofed: As threats evolve, so does Leonidas. Its software-defined architecture allows for continuous updates to improve range, efficiency, and precision without hardware changes, keeping the system ahead of adversarial advancements.

Strategic Collaborations and Contracts

Epirus has garnered significant attention from the U.S. military and key defense contractors, establishing itself as a key player in electronic warfare solutions. In 2021, Epirus secured a $66.1 million contract from the U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) to deliver four Leonidas prototypes for the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) program. These prototypes will offer the U.S. Army a highly scalable solution to defend against drone swarms and other airborne threats.

Additionally, Epirus is set to participate in the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise-Coastal Trident (ANTX-CT24) in 2024. This event will demonstrate how Leonidas can be used to disable electronic systems on small maritime vessels, further showcasing its versatility beyond the counter-UAS mission.

The Visionary Leadership Team

Epirus is led by a team of experienced leaders in defense, technology, and military operations.

• Andy Lowery, Chief Executive Officer, is a recognized thought leader with over 30 years of experience across military, corporate, and entrepreneurial sectors. A retired Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, Andy’s leadership experience includes founding RealWear, Inc., and pioneering mixed-reality systems at Daqri. His work at Raytheon in Electronic Warfare Systems brings deep expertise in defense technology to Epirus.

• Dan Kultran, Chief Technology Officer, has a rich background in RF and Mixed Signal Electronics design. After 18 years at Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, Dan has overseen the development of key power management technologies and solid-state systems at Epirus. He holds 12 patents and is a leader in advancing HPM systems.

• Mick Jaggers, Chief Operations Officer, brings decades of military and industry experience to Epirus. A former Vice President at Northrop Grumman, Mick also served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, flying F-15E Strike Eagles and earning numerous military decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Conclusion

With its cutting-edge Leonidas systems, Epirus is leading the future of directed energy and counter-electronics warfare. Backed by strong military contracts, scalable technology, and a visionary leadership team, Epirus is well-positioned to revolutionize defense solutions for the modern battlefield. Whether neutralizing drone swarms, protecting critical infrastructure, or addressing emerging threats, Epirus is at the forefront of next-generation defense technologies, providing cost-effective, adaptable, and mission-critical systems for the U.S. military and its allies.