Epirus, Inc.
Epirus, Inc.
 | |
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Aerospace & Defense |
| Founded 📆 | 2018 |
| Founder 👔 | |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , Torrance, California |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | https://www.epirusinc.com/ |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Epirus is an American defense technology company that develops high-power microwave (HPM) systems intended for counter-drone and counter-electronics operations. The company’s primary system, Leonidas, uses directed energy to interfere with drone electronics.[1]
History
Epirus was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Torrance, California with additional offices in Washington D.C. and Oklahoma.
In 2020, Epirus received a U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award to support early development of its Leonidas system. That same year, the company raised $70 million in Series B funding, followed by $200 million in Series C funding in 2022 and $250 million in Series D funding in 2025.[2][3][4][5]
In August 2025, Epirus opened the Epirus Immersive Innovation Center (EIIC) in Fort Sill, Oklahoma focused on counter-UAS research and training.[6]
Products and technology
Epirus’s primary product, Leonidas, is a solid-state, long-pulse HPM system designed for counter-electronics applications. It uses Gallium Nitride semiconductors to generate electromagnetic interference that disrupt or disable drones and other electronic systems.[1]
Variants include:
- Leonidas Mobile, designed for vehicle or trailer mounting.[1]
- Leonidas Pod, a compact version for integration with airborne platforms.[1]
- Leonidas AR, an autonomous, tracked ground platform that mounts the Leonidas HPM system for mobile counter-UAS operations.[7]
- Leonidas Expeditionary, a transportable HPM system developed for counter-UAS operations in expeditionary environments.[8]
Epirus has also developed several HPM systems for U.S. military programs:
- The Integrated Fire Protection Capability–High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) GEN II, introduced in 2025, builds on earlier prototypes for extended range and improved mission capability.[9]
- The commercially derived Leonidas Expeditionary has been adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps for use within the Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm, or ExDECS program, announced in 2024.[8]
- The Leonidas H2O, announced in April 2025, is designed to disable the motors of small boats and unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The system was tested during the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise – Coastal Trident (ANTX-CT) program.[10]
Leadership
As of 2023, Andy Lowery serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Lowery, a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, joined Epirus in 2021 as Chief Product Officer and later served as Chief Operating Officer.[11]
Partnerships and contracts
Epirus has collaborated with several government and defense organizations, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the U.S. Army. The company has also partnered with industry organizations such as General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and L3Harris Technologies.[1][7][8][9][12][13]
Contracts include:
- A $66.1 million grant in 2023 to supply IFPC-HPM systems to the U.S. Army.[14]
- A $5.5 million ONR grant in 2024 for development of the ExDECS system.[15]
- A $17 million grant in October 2024 to develop a sensor suite for the IFPC-HPM program.[16]
- A $43.5 million U.S. Army grant in 2025 for IFPC-HPM GEN II systems.[9]
Epirus was also selected to participate in Palantir Technologies’ Warp Speed program in 2025.[17]
See also
- Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project
- THOR (weapon)
- Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon
- Hurricane (weapon)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Leonidas High-Power Microwave System, US". Army Technology. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ Hemanth (2019-08-01). "USAF awards SBIR Phase I contract to Epirus Systems". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Epirus Raises $70 Million to Develop Directed Energy Weapons for Defense Applications". everything RF. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ Louise, Nickie (2022-02-15). "Directed-energy weapon tech startup Epirus gets $200M cash infusion to build drone-zapping weapons for the U.S. military; now valued at $1.35 billion". Tech Startups. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ Rollet, Charles (2025-03-05). "Defense tech startup Epirus raises $250M Series D to counter drone swarms". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Epirus opens immersive innovation centre at Lawton Fort Sill to advance counter-UAS research". Defence Industry Europe. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kumar, A. (2025-10-10). "Epirus and General Dynamics Unveil Leonidas AR: A Microwave-Based Autonomous Counter-Drone System". The Defense News. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Harper, Jon (2024-09-23). "Marines to get new drone-killing microwave weapon designed for expeditionary ops". DefenseScoop. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Tegler, Eric (2025-07-17). "Army Puts $43M Bet On Next Gen Leonidas High Power Microwave Counter Drone Tech". The War Zone. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Epirus Introduces Leonidas H2O, High-Power Microwave System for Maritime Interdiction and UAV Protection". Naval News. 2025-04-09. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Andy Lowery, CEO, Epirus". JED Digital. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ Blinde, Loren (2021-12-21). "Epirus wins DARPA electromagnetic contract". Intelligence Community News. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "L3Harris Teams with Epirus to Enhance Tactical Radio Performance". Space War. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ Macey, Joseph (2023-01-24). "US Army Awards Epirus $66 Million Contract for Leonidas Counter-UAS System". Defense Advancement. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ "Epirus announces $5.5 million U.S. Navy contract for HPM system". C-UAS Hub. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ Biesecker, Cal (2024-10-14). "Army Awards Epirus $17 Million To Integrate New Sensor Suite For IFPC-HPM Counter-Drone System". Defense Daily. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
- ↑ Cockayne, Vaughn. "Palantir expands customer base for Warp Speed operating system". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
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