A high-power microwave (HPM) system capable of intercepting multiple drones at once to enhance the anti-drone capabilities of the U.S. Marines has been developed by a U.S.-based manufacturer of counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UASs).

The new HPM system from Epirus, dubbed Leonidas Expeditionary, is being developed under the Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm (ExDECS) program as part of a $5.5 million contract award from the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Source: EpirusSource: Epirus

According to its developers, the Leonidas Expeditionary is a solid-state, software-defined, long-pulse HPM C-UAS developed specifically for the U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) and counter-unmanned systems missions. It is reportedly capable of destroying swarms of Group 1-2 UAS entering a field of protection

The technology will initially be integrated with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S), as well as with field experimentation and multi-platform testing in expeditionary scenarios.

Designed to fit on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) trailer, the Leonidas Expeditionary is a modular and scalable system

Epirus will deliver its completed ExDECS HPM system to the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab by the end of 2024.

To contact the author of this article, email mdonlon@globalspec.com