Within Leonidas
How Army Contracts Moved Leonidas Forward
US Army prototype and follow-on awards turned Leonidas from a demonstration system into a funded defence programme.
On this page
- The 2023 IFPC HPM prototype award
- Delivery, training and developmental testing
- Why the Generation II contract mattered
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
Leonidas became significantly more than a promising counter-drone demonstration when the U.S. Army incorporated it into the Indirect Fire Protection Capability–High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) programme. The key change was not technological alone; it was institutional. Through a sequence of prototype awards, deliveries, soldier training activities and follow-on contracts, the Army created a pathway that moved Leonidas from a test article into a funded capability with an operational user, developmental feedback loops and a roadmap for future upgrades. In the directed-energy weapons market, that transition is often the difference between an interesting prototype and a programme with long-term momentum. [PR Newswire+2Breaking Defense]prnewswire.comPR Newswire U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…Epirus, a high-growth technology company, announced today a $66.1 million contract aw…
The 2023 IFPC-HPM Prototype Award
The decisive moment came in January 2023, when the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) awarded Epirus a contract worth approximately $66.1 million to provide four high-power microwave prototypes for the IFPC-HPM effort. The programme was designed to explore a counter-swarm capability able to defend fixed and semi-fixed sites against groups of small unmanned aircraft. [PR Newswire+2Breaking Defense]prnewswire.comPR Newswire U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…Epirus, a high-growth technology company, announced today a $66.1 million contract aw…
The award mattered for several reasons.
First, it represented a competitive government selection rather than a simple technology demonstration. Army reporting and industry accounts indicated that Leonidas emerged from a government evaluation process focused on counter-drone swarm performance. The resulting contract gave the Army multiple systems to test rather than a single experimental unit. [Potomac Officers Club]potomacofficersclub.comarmy receives epirus leonidas counter uas prototypePotomac Officers ClubUS Army Receives Epirus Leonidas Counter-UAS PrototypeNov 2, 2023 — Epirus built the Leonidas prototype under a $66…
Second, the award placed Leonidas inside the Army’s broader air-defence modernisation framework. IFPC is intended to fill gaps between traditional short-range air defence systems and larger missile-defence architectures. By attaching high-power microwave technology to IFPC, the Army effectively signalled that directed-energy approaches deserved serious examination as part of future layered defence networks. [Task & Purpose]taskandpurpose.comarmy microwave weapon drone swarms ifpc hpm contractTask & PurposeArmy awards Epirus contract for counter-drone microwave…Jan 26, 2023 — The Army had requested $131.09 million for fiscal…
Third, the contract created a funded production and testing cycle. Instead of asking whether Leonidas could work in principle, the Army began evaluating whether it could be manufactured, delivered, trained on, maintained and integrated into military operations. That shift is often where many defence technologies fail; in Leonidas’ case, it became a source of momentum. [PR Newswire+2Breaking Defense]prnewswire.comPR Newswire U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…Epirus, a high-growth technology company, announced today a $66.1 million contract aw…
Delivery, Training and Developmental Testing
Winning a prototype contract is only the first step. The more important test is whether a system survives the Army’s implementation process.
In November 2023, Epirus delivered the first IFPC-HPM prototype derived from Leonidas. The delivery followed government acceptance testing and provided the Army with its first opportunity to begin handling the capability as military equipment rather than a contractor-owned demonstration asset. [Breaking Defense+2Defense News]breakingdefense.comarmy gets its hands on new high power microwave prototype from epirusBreaking DefenseArmy gets its hands on new high-power microwave…1 Nov 2023 — The delivery marks the first of four prototypes derived f…
By spring 2024, all four contracted systems had been delivered. Equally important, the programme completed New Equipment Training (NET) and Engineering Developmental Testing (EDT), milestones that are frequently overlooked outside defence circles but are critical to programme maturation. NET familiarises soldiers with operation and maintenance procedures, while EDT examines system performance, reliability and suitability under military testing conditions. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…15 May 2024 — Epirus announced today that it has delivered the final two o…
The completion of these activities indicated several things:
- The Army had enough confidence in the systems to begin preparing operational users.
- The programme moved beyond laboratory demonstrations into structured military evaluation.
- Data collection could begin informing future requirements, doctrine and procurement decisions.
- Reliability and safety assessments were becoming as important as raw counter-drone performance. [Epirus+2Unmanned Airspace]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…15 May 2024 — Epirus announced today that it has delivered the final two o…
This stage also provided one of Leonidas’ strongest credibility signals. Directed-energy programmes have historically struggled to move from successful demonstrations to sustained military testing. Delivering four systems, conducting training and completing developmental evaluations suggested that the Army viewed IFPC-HPM as a capability worthy of continued investment rather than a one-off experiment. [Epirus+2Axios]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…15 May 2024 — Epirus announced today that it has delivered the final two o…
Why Army Implementation Changed the Market View
For the anti-drone sector, the significance of the Army programme extended beyond the immediate contract value.
Many counter-UAS technologies can demonstrate effectiveness during controlled events. Far fewer obtain an operational sponsor willing to invest in logistics, training, testing infrastructure and future upgrades. The IFPC-HPM effort gave Leonidas exactly those advantages. [PR Newswire]prnewswire.comPR Newswire U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…Epirus, a high-growth technology company, announced today a $66.1 million contract aw…
The Army’s involvement also created a feedback mechanism that commercial demonstrations cannot replicate. Operators could identify usability issues, testing could reveal reliability challenges, and developers could refine software, hardware and integration requirements using military data. This process tends to improve both technical performance and procurement credibility. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…15 May 2024 — Epirus announced today that it has delivered the final two o…
Another important effect was signalling. Investors, other military services and international defence organisations often interpret Army funding as evidence that a technology has passed at least an initial threshold of technical and operational scrutiny. Leonidas therefore benefited not only from contract revenue but from increased legitimacy within the broader directed-energy market. [Contrary Research]research.contrary.comContrary ResearchReport: Epirus Business Breakdown & Founding StoryNov 14, 2024 — In January 2023, the company secured a $66 million cont…
Why the Generation II Contract Mattered
The clearest evidence that Leonidas had progressed beyond a prototype experiment arrived in 2025.
In July 2025, the Army’s RCCTO awarded Epirus a further contract worth approximately $43.5 million for two IFPC-HPM Generation II systems. The award included test events, support equipment, spare parts and options for additional support activities. Rather than restarting the programme from scratch, the Army chose to build on the first generation of delivered systems. [Epirus+2ASDNews]epirusinc.comArmy for…Jul 17, 2025 — Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems… U.S. Army Awards…
The Generation II effort was important because it demonstrated continuity. The Army was no longer merely asking whether high-power microwaves could defeat drones. It was funding a next increment intended to improve range, power, usability and mission effectiveness while collecting additional operational data. [Epirus+2National Defense Magazine]epirusinc.comArmy for…Jul 17, 2025 — Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems… U.S. Army Awards…
Army and industry descriptions of the award highlighted several objectives:
- Increased engagement range.
- Greater power output and effectiveness.
- Additional validation testing.
- Continued refinement of requirements for a potential future programme of record.
- Expanded support and sustainment activities around the systems. [Epirus+2LinkedIn]epirusinc.comArmy for…Jul 17, 2025 — Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems… U.S. Army Awards…
From a programme-management perspective, this was arguably more significant than the original prototype award. Prototype contracts prove interest; follow-on contracts indicate that testing generated enough confidence to justify further investment. The Generation II decision therefore reduced uncertainty about whether Leonidas would remain a short-lived demonstration effort. [Epirus+2The Defense Post]epirusinc.comArmy for…Jul 17, 2025 — Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems… U.S. Army Awards…
What the Contracts Reveal About Leonidas’ Trajectory
The Army’s engagement with Leonidas shows how defence adoption often occurs through incremental implementation rather than sudden procurement decisions.
The 2023 prototype award established funding and formal evaluation. Deliveries in 2023 and 2024 created real equipment for Army testing and training. Developmental testing generated performance data and operational feedback. The 2025 Generation II award then converted those lessons into an upgraded capability with additional Army investment. [PR Newswire+2Epirus]prnewswire.comPR Newswire U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…Epirus, a high-growth technology company, announced today a $66.1 million contract aw…
Within the broader anti-drone market, that sequence matters because it demonstrates a credible path from demonstration technology to sustained defence programme. Leonidas’ momentum has been driven not simply by microwave performance claims, but by the Army’s willingness to fund prototypes, train operators, conduct developmental testing and finance a second-generation iteration. Those implementation decisions transformed Leonidas from a promising directed-energy concept into one of the most closely watched high-power microwave programmes in the U.S. defence sector. [Axios+3Breaking Defense+3Epirus]breakingdefense.comus army selects epirus leonidas for high power microwave initiativeBreaking DefenseUS Army selects Epirus' Leonidas for high-power…Jan 23, 2023 — Epirus, a technology company developing directed-energy…
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Endnotes
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Source: axios.com
Title: Army gets four drone zappers in rush to defend troops The U.S
Link: https://www.axios.com/2024/05/15/drone-defense-us-military-epirusSource snippet
Army has received four prototype directed-energy weapons, referred to as "drone zappers," from defense contractor Epirus as part of a $66...
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Source: research.contrary.com
Link: https://research.contrary.com/company/epirusSource snippet
Contrary ResearchReport: Epirus Business Breakdown & Founding StoryNov 14, 2024 — In January 2023, the company secured a $66 million cont...
Published: January 2023
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Source: asdnews.com
Title: epirus receives 435m contract us army ifpchpm generation ii systems
Link: https://www.asdnews.com/news/defense/2025/07/17/epirus-receives-435m-contract-us-army-ifpchpm-generation-ii-systemsSource snippet
Epirus Receives $43.5 M Contract from US Army for IFPC...17 Jul 2025 — Epirus announced today a $43,551,060 contract from the U.S. Army'...
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Source: linkedin.com
Title: Linked In U.S
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/epirus_review-the-press-release-activity-7351627255388798976-p2QxSource snippet
Army awards $43.5 million contract for IFPC-HPM...New $43.5 million contract from US Army for the delivery of IFPC-HPM Generation II (GE...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/the-defense-post_epirus-has-secured-a-4355-million-contract-activity-7352049552767500288-QWWUSource snippet
generation directed-energy weapon designed to disable drone [swarms]({{ 'swarms/' | relative_url }}) and other...Read more...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaelskarzynski_leonidas-weapon-system-is-a-directed-energy-activity-7383448542058807297-9LQASource snippet
roy targets, making it a cost-effective solution compared to...Read more...
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Source: prnewswire.com
Title: PR Newswire U.S
Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-army-awards-epirus-66-1m-contract-for-leonidas-directed-energy-system-301727354.htmlSource snippet
Army Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™...Epirus, a high-growth technology company, announced today a $66.1 million contract aw...
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Source: breakingdefense.com
Title: us army selects epirus leonidas for high power microwave initiative
Link: https://breakingdefense.com/2023/01/us-army-selects-epirus-leonidas-for-high-power-microwave-initiative/Source snippet
Breaking DefenseUS Army selects Epirus' Leonidas for high-power...Jan 23, 2023 — Epirus, a technology company developing directed-energy...
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Source: potomacofficersclub.com
Title: army receives epirus leonidas counter uas prototype
Link: https://www.potomacofficersclub.com/army-receives-epirus-leonidas-counter-uas-prototype/Source snippet
Potomac Officers ClubUS Army Receives Epirus Leonidas Counter-UAS PrototypeNov 2, 2023 — Epirus built the Leonidas prototype under a $66...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Epirus Leonidas
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epirus_LeonidasSource snippet
Epirus LeonidasEpirus announced on 1 November 2023 that the first prototype had been delivered [13] and all four were delivered by Mar...
Published: November 2023
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Source: taskandpurpose.com
Title: army microwave weapon drone swarms ifpc hpm contract
Link: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-microwave-weapon-drone-swarms-ifpc-hpm-contract/Source snippet
Task & PurposeArmy awards Epirus contract for counter-drone microwave...Jan 26, 2023 — The Army had requested $131.09 million for fiscal...
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Source: c4isrnet.com
Title: epirus wins 66m army contract for drone frying leonidas microwave kit
Link: https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2023/01/23/epirus-wins-66m-army-contract-for-drone-frying-leonidas-microwave-kit/Source snippet
Epirus wins $66M Army contract for drone-frying Leonidas...Jan 23, 2023 — Epirus, a US company specializing in directed energy and its d...
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Source: breakingdefense.com
Title: army gets its hands on new high power microwave prototype from epirus
Link: https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/army-gets-its-hands-on-new-high-power-microwave-prototype-from-epirus/Source snippet
Breaking DefenseArmy gets its hands on new high-power microwave...1 Nov 2023 — The delivery marks the first of four prototypes derived f...
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Source: defensenews.com
Title: army gets first high power microwave prototype to counter drone swarms
Link: https://www.defensenews.com/[battlefieldSource snippet
Army gets first high-power microwave prototype to counter...1 Nov 2023 — Epirus “successfully” completed a recent government acceptance...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-finalizes-delivery-of-four-ifpc-hpm-systems-to-u-s-army-completes-new-equipment-training-and-engineering-developmental-testingSource snippet
EpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to...15 May 2024 — Epirus announced today that it has delivered the final two o...
Published: May 2024
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Source: unmannedairspace.info
Link: https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/epirus-delivers-ifpc-hpm-system-bringing-high-power-microwave-counter-swarm-capability-to-us-army/Source snippet
This delivery covers the first of four such systems to be delivered to the service under a 2022 contract.Read more...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-receives-43-million-contract-from-u-s-army-for-ifpc-hpm-generation-ii-systemsSource snippet
Army for...Jul 17, 2025 — Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems... U.S. Army Awards...
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Source: prnewswire.com
Title: PR Newswire Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S
Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epirus-receives-43-5-million-contract-from-us-army-for-ifpc-hpm-generation-ii-systems-302507970.htmlSource snippet
Army for...17 Jul 2025 — PRNewswire/ -- Epirus announced today a $43551060 contract from the U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical...
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Source: nationaldefensemagazine.org
Title: epirus bringing advanced counter drone system to army other markets
Link: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2025/7/17/epirus-bringing-advanced-counter-drone-system-to-army-other-marketsSource snippet
JUST IN: Army Acquiring Next Generation of Epirus'...17 Jul 2025 — Epirus landed a $43.6 million contract from the Army in June to deliv...
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Source: thedefensepost.com
Title: epirus ifpc hpm gen ii
Link: https://thedefensepost.com/2025/07/18/epirus-ifpc-hpm-gen-ii/Source snippet
Epirus Bags $43M US Army Anti‑Drone Directed‑Energy...Jul 18, 2025 — “The second generation of our energy-based HPM platform and the nex...
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Source: tectonicdefense.com
Title: epirus secures 43 5m from army rccto
Link: https://www.tectonicdefense.com/epirus-secures-43-5m-from-army-rccto/Source snippet
Epirus Secures $43.5M from Army RCCTO17 Jul 2025 — Epirus won a $43.5M Army RCCTO contract to deliver GEN II Leonidas counter-drone syste...
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Source: Wikipedia
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EpirusSource snippet
EpirusEpirus is a geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe, now shared between Greece and Albania. Classical Epirus r...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/Source snippet
Home of Leonidas, the Premier High-Power...Epirus combines the latest in directed energy, long-pulse high-power microwaves (HPM), AI, an...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Title: Epirus secures $17M contract from U.S
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-secures-17m-contract-from-u-s-armySource snippet
Army14 Oct 2024 — Epirus delivered the first IFPC-HPM system just nine months after contract award and finalized delivery of all four sys...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-leonidas-demonstrates-successful-use-of-high-power-microwave-to-defeat-[fiber-opticSource snippet
Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems... U.S. Army Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas...Read more...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/markets/governmentSource snippet
Epirus Markets: GovernmentEpirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems... U.S. Army Awards E...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/electronic-warfareSource snippet
Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems... U.S. Army Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™ Directed...Read more...
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Source: jedonline.com
Title: epirus secures ifpc hpm upgrade contract from us army
Link: https://www.jedonline.com/2024/11/25/epirus-secures-ifpc-hpm-upgrade-contract-from-us-army/Source snippet
Epirus Secures IFPC-HPM Upgrade Contract from US Army25 Nov 2024 — The company delivered the first IFPC-HPM system just nine months after...
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Source: army-technology.com
Title: epirus to deliver leonidas prototype systems for us army
Link: https://www.army-technology.com/news/epirus-to-deliver-leonidas-prototype-systems-for-us-army/Source snippet
more...
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Source: unmannedairspace.info
Title: epirus receives usd 43 5m us army contract for second generation hpm systems
Link: https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/epirus-receives-usd-43-5m-us-army-contract-for-second-generation-hpm-systems/Source snippet
Epirus receives USD 43.5M US Army contract for second...18 Jul 2025 — The IFPC-HPM GEN II systems will build upon the four iFPC-HPM syst...
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Source: calibredefence.co.uk
Title: epirus zaps fibre optic fpv with leonidas microwave weapon
Link: https://www.calibredefence.co.uk/epirus-zaps-fibre-optic-fpv-with-leonidas-microwave-weapon/Source snippet
It can be integrated into the Indirect Fire...Read more...
Additional References
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Source: x.com
Link: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1842519076431642721 -
Source: twz.com
Title: army puts 50m bet on next gen leonidas high power microwave counter drone tech
Link: https://www.twz.com/land/army-puts-50m-bet-on-next-gen-leonidas-high-power-microwave-counter-drone-techSource snippet
Army Puts $43M Bet On Next Gen Leonidas High Power...Jul 17, 2025 — Today, high power microwave (HPM) system maker Epirus announced it h...
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Source: microwavejournal.com
Title: Microwave Journal Epirus Secures $17 M Contract From U.S
Link: https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/42858-epirus-secures-17-m-contract-from-us-armySource snippet
ArmyOct 15, 2024 — RCCTO awarded Epirus a $66 million other transaction authority for the rapid prototyping of four HPM systems to counte...
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Source: defensescoop.com
Title: army receives first epirus built drone zapper prototype
Link: https://defensescoop.com/2023/11/01/army-receives-first-epirus-built-drone-zapper-prototype/Source snippet
Army receives first Epirus-built drone zapper prototypeNov 1, 2023 — Epirus has delivered the first prototype under its contract with the...
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Source: army-technology.com
Title: leonidas high power microwave hpm system usa
Link: https://www.army-technology.com/projects/leonidas-high-power-microwave-hpm-system-usa/Source snippet
Leonidas High-Power Microwave System, US9 Aug 2024 — Epirus secured a $66.1m contract from the US Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical...
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Source: tripadvisor.com.tr
Title: Attractions g189451 Activities Epirus
Link: https://www.tripadvisor.com.tr/Attractions-g189451-Activities-Epirus.htmlSource snippet
Acheron River · 4,7. (1.954). Su Oluşumları · 2. Vikos Gorge · 4,9. (386). Kanyonlar · 3. Acheron Springs · 4,8. (494). Su...Read more...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: 49 Drones, [One Pulse]({{ ‘one-pulse/’ | relative_url }}) — Inside Epirus Leonidas HPM
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1uMc0RuN9ISource snippet
US Army Epirus Leonidas contract IFPC HPM Leonidas Generation II: Weaponized Electromagnetic Interference for Counter-Drone Defense Epirus...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: U S Army Orders $43 5M in Advanced Microwave Weapons to Combat Drone Threats
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH3W11zuaqQSource snippet
Leonidas Generation II: Weaponized Electromagnetic Interference for Counter-Drone Defense...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: Our recently awarded U.S
Link: https://www.facebook.com/EpirusInc/videos/epirus-leonidas/538937471632237/Source snippet
Army contract win solidifies Epirus...Our recently awarded US Army contract win solidifies Epirus' innovative approach to high-power mic...
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Source: everycrsreport.com
Link: https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2025-01-21_IF12421_ba181b9ea447071adef606c3fc4027b4c31ddee5.htmlSource snippet
The US Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC)...Jan 21, 2025 — In January 2023, the Army reportedly awarded a $66.1 million c...
Published: January 2023
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