Image source: topwar.ru
The other day, the American company Epirus announced the results of a demonstration conducted for the military of the Leonidas high-power microwave complex (HPM), which creates electromagnetic interference to combat swarms of robotic devices.
As stated on the developer's website, the new installation showed the best results during testing.:
The installation was tested under various scenarios. As part of the "multi-angle counteraction", two groups of three drones approached from opposite sides. Leonidas first engaged the first trio of drones on the left, and then redirected his HPM beam to deal with the three on the right.
In the "selective targeting" scenario, two drones were in close proximity to each other. One of the observers gave the complex a target designation for one of them, after which Leonidas destroyed it without hitting the other UAV, "demonstrating software-defined, precisely controlled waveforms of the system." Then the installation hit the remaining drone.
As part of the "precise interception," the complex intercepted a single drone, but dropped it to the ground in a pre-determined safe zone, potentially avoiding collateral damage.
In the "multi-purpose interaction" scenario, three drones flew into the firing zone from different directions. Leonidas destroyed all three drones at the same time, demonstrating the ability to win in aerial combat in the "one against all" mode.
Image source: topwar.ru
The final test was the simultaneous destruction of a swarm of 49 drones, shown in the corresponding video.
- noted by the developer.
Representatives of the US Department of Defense and 9 allied countries were invited to the demonstration. During this show, the Leonidas complex of the first generation was used. At the same time, in July 2025, the company introduced the latest version of the microwave system, which will be more than twice as long as the 2022 product in terms of range and killing power with the same form factor.
