Within Live Fire Claims
Can microwaves stop fiber optic drones?
A fiber-optic drone defeat claim matters because it tests whether microwave weapons can do more than break radio control links.
On this page
- Why fiber optic drones resist jamming
- What the Leonidas demonstration showed
- What remains unknown across different designs
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
Can high-power microwaves stop fibre-optic drones? The available evidence suggests that they potentially can, but the public proof remains limited. This question matters because fibre-optic-guided drones were developed specifically to overcome one of the most common counter-drone techniques: radio-frequency jamming. Instead of communicating through the air, they remain connected to their operator through a spool of fibre-optic cable, making them largely immune to traditional electronic warfare measures that disrupt radio links. [DRONELIFE+2Nordic Defence Review]dronelife.comFiber-optic drones in Warfare What they Are Why they Work21 Jul 2025 — Because the signal is physical rather than wireless, the…
Within the broader discussion of Leonidas live-fire swarm claims, Epirus’s January 2026 announcement stands out because it did not describe a conventional jamming success. The company stated that its Leonidas high-power microwave (HPM) system disabled a fibre-optic-controlled drone during a government-observed test, presenting the event as evidence that microwave weapons can damage or disrupt onboard electronics directly rather than merely severing communications. [Epirus+2Unmanned Systems Technology]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
Why fibre-optic drones resist jamming
Fibre-optic drones replace the normal radio control link with a physical fibre cable that unspools behind the aircraft during flight. Commands travel through light signals inside the cable rather than through radio transmissions. Because there is no wireless command channel to overpower, conventional jamming systems have little effect on the control connection. [DRONELIFE+2m2optics.com]dronelife.comFiber-optic drones in Warfare What they Are Why they Work21 Jul 2025 — Because the signal is physical rather than wireless, the…
This design emerged as a response to increasingly dense electronic warfare environments, particularly in Ukraine. Battlefield operators found that radio-controlled first-person-view (FPV) drones could often be disrupted by jammers, spoofers, or electronic attack systems. Fibre-optic versions bypass that problem by maintaining a direct physical connection to the operator. Reports from Ukraine describe them as effectively unjammable from a command-link perspective and difficult to detect using systems that search for radio emissions. [The Guardian+2DRONE ROUND]theguardian.comThese kamikaze drones, connected to their operators via up to 20km of fibre optic cable, cannot be jammed by electronic warfare, making t…
That does not make fibre-optic drones invulnerable. They can still be destroyed kinetically, intercepted by other drones, or disabled if their onboard electronics fail. The distinction is important: immunity to jamming does not equal immunity to electromagnetic effects. A microwave weapon that damages flight-control electronics, processors, sensors, power-management circuits, or other onboard components is attacking a different part of the system entirely. [Tectonic Defense+2DRONE ROUND]tectonicdefense.comexclusive epirus leonidas downs fiber optic drone during testsTectonic DefenseExclusive: Epirus' Leonidas Downs Fiber-Optic Drone…13 Jan 2026 — Instead of jamming, shooting, or hijacking drones, L…
What the Leonidas demonstration showed
In January 2026, Epirus announced that Leonidas had successfully defeated a fibre-optic-guided unmanned aircraft during a live-fire demonstration conducted the previous month at a US government test range. The company described the event as the first known instance of an electronic-warfare-based counter-UAS system demonstrating effects against a fibre-optic-controlled drone. [Epirus+2cuashub.com]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
The significance of the claim lies in the mechanism being asserted. Leonidas is a high-power microwave weapon designed to project electromagnetic energy toward a target. According to company descriptions and associated reporting, the system is intended to induce disruptive electrical effects inside drone electronics rather than simply interfere with a radio control signal. In other words, the target drone allegedly failed because its onboard systems were affected, not because its communication link was jammed. [Tectonic Defense+2Epirus]tectonicdefense.comexclusive epirus leonidas downs fiber optic drone during testsTectonic DefenseExclusive: Epirus' Leonidas Downs Fiber-Optic Drone…13 Jan 2026 — Instead of jamming, shooting, or hijacking drones, L…
This distinction addresses a common criticism of electronic-warfare counter-drone systems. Many counter-UAS products work only when a drone depends on radio communications or satellite navigation. A successful engagement against a fibre-optic drone would suggest that Leonidas operates through a broader mechanism and could remain effective even when the target does not rely on radio control. [DRONE ROUND+2Nordic Defence Review]dronerounddefense.comd challenging to detect using frequency-based sensors. Uncontested…Read more…
The public information released by Epirus does not describe the exact failure mode. Available accounts state that the drone was disabled, disrupted, or defeated, but do not identify which internal components were affected or whether the microwave pulse caused temporary malfunction, permanent damage, loss of flight control, or another effect. [Epirus+2Unmanned Systems Technology]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
Why the claim matters beyond one drone
The rise of fibre-optic drones has exposed a gap in many existing counter-drone architectures. Systems optimised around jamming radio links can become less effective when confronted with a drone that communicates through a physical cable. This challenge has received increasing attention as fibre-optic FPV drones have spread on the Ukrainian battlefield and begun appearing in other operational contexts. [The Guardian+2cuashub.com]theguardian.comThese kamikaze drones, connected to their operators via up to 20km of fibre optic cable, cannot be jammed by electronic warfare, making t…
If Leonidas genuinely defeated a fibre-optic drone through direct electronic effects, the demonstration would support the argument that high-power microwave weapons belong in a different category from traditional radio-frequency jammers. Instead of attacking the communication channel, they attempt to attack the electronics that make flight possible. That is precisely why the test received attention within counter-UAS circles despite involving only a single target. [Epirus+2Tectonic Defense]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
For military planners, the implication is not that fibre-optic drones are obsolete, but that their resistance to one class of defence may not extend to all electromagnetic threats. A drone can be immune to command-link jamming while still remaining vulnerable to sufficiently intense electromagnetic effects aimed at onboard hardware. [DRONELIFE+2DRONE ROUND]dronelife.comFiber-optic drones in Warfare What they Are Why they Work21 Jul 2025 — Because the signal is physical rather than wireless, the…
What remains unknown across different designs
Despite the attention generated by the announcement, the publicly available evidence leaves major questions unanswered.
The most important limitation is that nearly all detailed information comes from company statements and derivative reporting. No independent technical report has been released describing the test setup, microwave power levels, target configuration, engagement geometry, or measured failure mechanisms. [Epirus+2Unmanned Systems Technology]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
Several operational factors remain unclear:
- The exact type of fibre-optic drone used.
- The distance between Leonidas and the target.
- Whether the drone employed hardened or shielded electronics.
- Whether the effect was temporary or permanently destructive.
- How repeatable the result would be across different drone architectures.
- Whether similar outcomes occur against larger or more sophisticated fibre-guided systems. [Epirus+2Unmanned Systems Technology]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
Another unresolved issue is scalability. Demonstrating effects against one fibre-optic drone is different from proving effectiveness against multiple fibre-guided aircraft approaching from different directions under operational conditions. The available announcement establishes a proof-of-concept claim, not a comprehensive performance envelope. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
The key takeaway is therefore narrower than some headlines suggest. The Leonidas demonstration does not prove that all fibre-optic drones can be reliably defeated by high-power microwaves. What it does suggest is that the traditional assumption—”fibre-optic drones cannot be stopped electronically because they cannot be jammed”—may be incomplete. If the reported test accurately reflects direct microwave effects on onboard electronics, then at least some fibre-optic drones remain vulnerable to a form of electromagnetic attack that operates independently of their control link. [Epirus+2Unmanned Systems Technology]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-…Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
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Further Reading
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Directed Energy Weapons
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Endnotes
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Source: dronelife.com
Link: https://dronelife.com/?p=106815Source snippet
Fiber-optic drones in Warfare What they Are Why they Work21 Jul 2025 — Because the signal is physical rather than wireless, the...
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Source: cuashub.com
Link: https://cuashub.com/uk/content/epirus-leonidas-demonstrates-first-known-high-power-microwave-defeat-of-fiber-optic-guided-uas/?ac=trueSource snippet
Epirus' Leonidas demonstrates first known high power...14 Jan 2026 — Epirus has announced that its Leonidas VehicleKit high-power microw...
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Source: m2optics.com
Title: draft what is a tethered fiber optic drone
Link: https://www.m2optics.com/blog/draft-what-is-a-tethered-fiber-optic-droneSource snippet
What is a Tethered Fiber Optic Drone?22 Dec 2025 — Control signals, telemetry, and high-bandwidth video are transmitted using light signa...
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Source: dronerounddefense.com
Link: https://dronerounddefense.com/news/fiber-optic-drone-defense/Source snippet
d challenging to detect using frequency-based sensors. Uncontested...Read more...
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Source: cuashub.com
Link: https://cuashub.com/en/content/fiber-optic-strike-on-u-s-base-exposes-counter-drone-vulnerabilities/Source snippet
ties in U.S. counter-drone defenses...
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Source: cuashub.com
Link: https://cuashub.com/fr/content/epirus-leonidas-demonstrates-first-known-high-power-microwave-defeat-of-fiber-optic-guided-uas/?ac=trueSource snippet
Epirus' Leonidas demonstrates first known high power...On Jan 13, Epirus announced that its Leonidas VehicleKit high‑power microwave pla...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Leonidas AGV: Fully Autonomous Vehicle for Counter-UAS
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpeMiqqfjFsSource snippet
Epirus Leonidas HPM: The Premier Counter-[Drone Swarm]({{ 'swarm-limits/' | relative_url }}) Solution...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Epirus Leonidas HPM: The Premier Counter-Drone Swarm Solution
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAmSDdK57o0Source snippet
What Makes These Fiber Optic Drones So Special?...
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Source: nordicdefencereview.com
Link: https://nordicdefencereview.com/countering-russias-unjammable-drones/Source snippet
Countering Russia's Unjammable DronesUnlike traditional drones that rely on radio signals and can be jammed, these drones are tethered to...
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Source: theguardian.com
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/23/they-cannot-be-jammed-fibre-optic-drones-pose-new-threat-in-ukraineSource snippet
These kamikaze drones, connected to their operators via up to 20km of fibre optic cable, cannot be jammed by electronic warfare, making t...
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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-optic-controlled-uasSource snippet
EpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-...Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De...
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Source: unmannedsystemstechnology.com
Title: epirus demonstrates successful hpm effects against fiber optic fpv drones
Link: https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2026/01/epirus-demonstrates-successful-hpm-effects-against-fiber-optic-fpv-drones/Source snippet
Epirus Demonstrates Successful HPM Effects Against Fiber...26 Jan 2026 — Epirus has successfully demonstrated the ability of its Leonida...
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Source: tectonicdefense.com
Title: exclusive epirus leonidas downs fiber optic drone during tests
Link: https://www.tectonicdefense.com/exclusive-epirus-leonidas-downs-fiber-optic-drone-during-tests/Source snippet
Tectonic DefenseExclusive: Epirus' Leonidas Downs Fiber-Optic Drone...13 Jan 2026 — Instead of jamming, shooting, or hijacking drones, L...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/Source snippet
EpirusEpirus - Home of Leonidas, the Premier High-Power...Epirus combines the latest in solid-state, long-pulse high-power microwave sys...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Title: Tap to unmute.Read more
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-leonidas-high-power-microwave-defeats-49-drone-swarm-100-of-drones-flown-at-live-fire-demonstrationSource snippet
EpirusEpirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone...Sep 10, 2025 — Leonidas neutralized 61-of-61 drones, culminating in a 49...
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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
Many counter-drone...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ian-winer-109b7681_epirus-leonidas-disables-fiber-optic-uas-activity-7417037892939829248-DsT9Source snippet
defeating fiber-optic controlled UAS.Read more...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andylowery_epirus-leonidas-disables-fiber-optic-uas-activity-7416881546617360385-_ifgSource snippet
ng fiber-optic guided UAS, which have emerged as a...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/c-uas-hub_epirus-leonidas-demonstrates-first-known-activity-7417159967536820226-em–Source snippet
optic guided UAS On Jan 13, Epirus announced that its Leonidas...Read more...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dylan-malyasov-53190611a_epirus-has-released-new-footage-showing-its-activity-7417201769434443777-PNg6Source snippet
bling a fiber-optic guided drone during a U.S...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na0pGfopahMSource snippet
A proven, safe and scalable counter-UAS solution that works when others fall short — even...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/electronic-warfareSource snippet
January 27, 2026. February 26, 2026 · Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to Defeat Fiber-Optic Controll...
Published: January 27, 2026
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/newsroomSource snippet
for Epirus - Home of Leonidas, the Premier...Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to Defeat Fiber-Optic...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/100083268674748/videos/-epirus-shows-first-electromagnetic-kill-of-fpv-droneepirus-unveils-leonidas-veh/882825960805651/Source snippet
essfully disabling a fiber optic guided drone during a...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Epirus Leonidas
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epirus_LeonidasSource snippet
Epirus LeonidasThe Leonidas is a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon developed to disable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) [swarms]({{ 'swarms/' | relative_url }}). It was n...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTdeB93DlHw/Source snippet
drone technology, creating a mobile defense platform designed to...
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Source: defence-blog.com
Title: epirus confirms leonidas microwave system integration with dft platform
Link: https://defence-blog.com/epirus-confirms-leonidas-microwave-system-integration-with-dft-platform/Source snippet
Epirus confirms Leonidas microwave system integration...Feb 25, 2026 — Epirus and Digital Force Technologies partnered to integrate the...
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Source: uasvision.com
Link: https://www.uasvision.com/2026/01/16/epirus-leonidas-demonstrates-successful-use-of-high-power-microwave-to-defeat-fiber-optic-controlled-uas/Source snippet
Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-...16 Jan 2026 — – Epirus has released video footage showing its Leonidas VehicleKi...
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Source: thedefensepost.com
Title: epirus directed energy counter drone
Link: https://thedefensepost.com/2026/01/15/epirus-directed-energy-counter-drone/Source snippet
Epirus Demos First Directed-Energy Takedown of Jam...15 Jan 2026 — Epirus has conducted the first demonstrated neutralization of a fiber...
Additional References
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Source: researchgate.net
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392512531_Fiber-Optic_Drone_Technologies_A_Multidisciplinary_Review_from_Communication_Fundamentals_to_Military_ApplicationsSource snippet
(PDF) Fiber-Optic Drone Technologies: A Multidisciplinary...Jun 8, 2025 — Wired guidance makes the link between operators and drones imm...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2024-2025-battlefield-reality-robi-sen-sbzdcSource snippet
Detecting and Jamming Fiber Optic Tethered DronesFiber optic drones are not invulnerable. While their lack of RF-based control makes trad...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1l1ciac/eli5_fiber_optic_war_drones/Source snippet
ELI5 Fiber Optic War Drones: r/explainlikeimfiveExcuse the possibly dumb question but.. How do the fiber optic drones, used in war, work...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UkrainianConflict/comments/1exkmhb/russia_deploys_new_fiberoptic_drones_immune_to/Source snippet
Russia Deploys New Fiber-Optic Drones Immune to JammingThe same utility as a non tethered one, you are just gaining immunity to jamming i...
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Source: defensetechforukraine.org
Link: https://defensetechforukraine.org/product-development/underappreciated-reasons-fiber-drones-are-so-effective/Source snippet
Underappreciated Reasons Fiber Drones Are So EffectiveWhile the most widely known advantage of fiber optic drones is that they are immune...
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Source: beechat.network
Link: https://beechat.network/2026/01/05/how-modern-drones-overcome-jamming-fibre-optics-ai-autonomy-and-frequency-hopping/Source snippet
Fibre Optics, AI Autonomy, and Frequency Hopping5 Jan 2026 — Jamming can involve transmitting strong noise on the same frequency as the c...
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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...17 Jul 2025 — Epirus' CEO says successful tests of the company's Gen II system capa...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwkOxXgAWZ0Source snippet
How fiber optic drones reshape warfare in UkraineFiber optic cable now used to connect drone operators to FPVs ensures a perfect image an...
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Source: lindenphotonics.com
Title: jam proof fiber optics for drones revolutionizing secure communications
Link: https://www.lindenphotonics.com/jam-proof-fiber-optics-for-drones-revolutionizing-secure-communicationsSource snippet
Jam-Proof Fiber Optics for Drones: Revolutionizing Secure...Aug 22, 2024 — Jam-proof fiber optics present a promising solution to these...
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Source: armyrecognition.com
Title: u s demonstrates microwave weapon defeating fiber optic fpv drones
Link: https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2026/u-s-demonstrates-microwave-weapon-defeating-fiber-optic-fpv-dronesSource snippet
Demonstrates Microwave Weapon Defeating Fiber-...2 Feb 2026 — Epirus released footage on 13 January 2026 showing its Leonidas VehicleKit...
Published: January 2026
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