The US military is ramping up its counter-drone capabilities across the board, with the Pentagon creating a Joint Interservice Task Force aimed at developing cost effective defenses against battlefield drones. To that end, the US Army has contracted with Epirus to test the company’s new Generation II Leonidas High Power Microwave (HPM) system for the low-altitude air defense (LAAD) role.

Dubbed the Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) by the Army, the Gen II Leonidas HPM would be tasked with defending installations, platforms, such as Patriot Missile batteries, and troop formations. The system’s primary role would be defeating low-flying, unmanned craft, including drone swarms, for which it is uniquely suited. Potential ancillary roles could be expanded to include traditional aircraft or cruise missiles, and even ground or water-borne threats.

Unlike directed radio wave weapons—

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