Epirus Delivers Counter-Drone System to US Navy Warfare Center

Defense contractor Epirus announced today it has delivered counter-drone technology to a Navy warfare center. The system builds on demonstrations the company conducted last year with its Leonidas Expeditionary platform.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren in Virginia received the Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm prototype. Epirus developed ExDECS through a contract with the Office of Naval Research. The system uses high-power microwave technology to defend against drone swarms and explosive unmanned surface vessels, similar to attacks the Houthis have launched in the Red Sea.

Andy Lowery runs Epirus as CEO. He said drone warfare is rapidly changing combat dynamics. Systems like ExDECS give Marines an advantage by neutralizing multiple electronic threats simultaneously with one platform. He calls this a one-to-many capability.

As reported by industry sources, "This delivery is a critical step toward fielding non-kinetic counter-swarm solutions that enhance the mobility, survivability, and lethality of our Marine forces," Lowery said in a statement.

Lowery explained last year that his company's technology temporarily disables hostile assets like unmanned surface vessel engines while remaining safe for humans. The microwave energy disrupts electronics without causing permanent damage or injury to people.

The Navy will use the ExDECS prototype to support Marine Corps experimentation. Testing will evaluate how high-power microwave technology benefits Low Altitude Air Defense missions and enhances Ground Based Air Defense capabilities.

Epirus already has a relationship with the US Army. The Army selected the company through a 2018 competition run by its Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. That win led to a follow-on contract for at least four production units. Several other companies also received contracts from the same competition.

Breaking Defense reported last year that Epirus was preparing to demonstrate its Leonidas system. Those demonstrations apparently went well enough to result in the Navy delivery announced today.

The technology addresses a growing threat on modern battlefields. Small drones and unmanned vessels have proven effective weapons in recent conflicts. Traditional kinetic defenses struggle against swarms because they can only engage one target at a time.

Directed energy weapons like ExDECS can potentially handle multiple threats simultaneously, making them attractive for military applications.