Within Electronics Risk
Can Friendly Drones Survive the Defense?
Friendly drones create a hard deconfliction problem because they may share the same airspace as the swarm Leonidas is meant to stop.
On this page
- Why friendly drones blur the risk boundary
- How airspace deconfliction changes HPM use
- When another defensive layer may be safer
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Introduction
Friendly drones are one of the hardest operational challenges for any high-power microwave (HPM) counter-drone system. Leonidas is designed to disable multiple hostile drones at once by projecting electromagnetic energy into a volume of airspace rather than engaging a single target. That capability makes it attractive against swarms, but it also means commanders must ensure that their own unmanned aircraft are not occupying the same area when the system fires. The problem is not merely identification of friend versus foe; it is preventing friendly drones from entering the region where microwave effects are intended to occur. Wider-beam HPM systems can affect electronics throughout an area, making airspace management a central part of safe employment. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — For example, wider beam DEWs, such as high power microwave or millimete…
In practice, keeping friendly drones out of Leonidas effects zones is less about making drones “survive” a microwave engagement and more about preventing exposure in the first place. The solution combines airspace control measures, timing, mission planning, and layered defences that reduce the need to fire HPM weapons when friendly unmanned aircraft are nearby.
Why Friendly Drones Blur the Risk Boundary
Traditional air defence often assumes a clear separation between protected assets and incoming threats. Modern operations increasingly break that assumption. Forces may simultaneously operate reconnaissance drones, targeting drones, communications relays, loitering systems, and logistics drones while defending against hostile unmanned aircraft.
This creates a unique challenge for Leonidas. The system’s value comes from its ability to produce counter-electronics effects against many drones at once rather than engaging them individually. Demonstrations have highlighted the system’s ability to neutralise large groups of drones within a shared volume of airspace. [Epirus+2The War Zone]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Leonidas High-Power Microwave: Directed Energy…Leonidas is a solid-state, high-power HPM system, utilizing Gallium Nitrid…
The operational question therefore becomes: what happens if a friendly drone occupies that same volume?
Publicly available information does not provide detailed military deconfliction procedures for Leonidas, but the broader HPM challenge is well understood. High-power microwave weapons are intended to couple electromagnetic energy into electronics, potentially causing disruption or damage. A friendly drone contains exactly the kinds of electronics—flight controllers, navigation systems, communications equipment and payload processors—that HPM systems are designed to affect. [Office of Naval Research]navy.milOffice of Naval Research Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves HPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad sOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe…
The result is a blurred boundary between target space and friendly airspace. A reconnaissance drone orbiting near a defended facility may be a valuable asset one moment and an unintended casualty the next if it enters an active HPM engagement area.
How Airspace Deconfliction Changes HPM Use
Because Leonidas is fundamentally a counter-electronics system, operators must think about airspace differently than they would with many kinetic weapons.
The effects zone becomes restricted airspace
A conventional interceptor follows a relatively narrow path toward a specific target. An HPM engagement can instead create a broader region where electronic systems are at risk. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has specifically noted that wider-beam directed-energy weapons can affect assets within an area regardless of whether they are friendly or hostile. [GAO]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — For example, wider beam DEWs, such as high power microwave or millimete…
For friendly drone operators, this effectively creates temporary no-fly zones around anticipated HPM engagements. Before Leonidas fires, commanders may need to:
- Clear friendly drones from the expected engagement volume.
- Delay friendly launches during periods of heightened drone threat.
- Route unmanned aircraft around defended sectors.
- Coordinate with air-defence operators before entering protected airspace.
The challenge grows when drone traffic is continuous rather than episodic.
Time becomes as important as location
Many military drones spend long periods orbiting over an area. Counter-drone engagements, however, may occur suddenly and with little warning.
This means deconfliction cannot rely solely on static maps. Friendly drone positions must be known in near real time. If hostile drones appear unexpectedly, commanders may face a trade-off between immediately firing Leonidas and waiting for friendly unmanned aircraft to exit the danger area.
The problem resembles air-traffic control, but with much tighter timelines and potentially hostile conditions.
Selective targeting helps but does not eliminate the issue
Recent Leonidas demonstrations have highlighted selective engagement capabilities and the ability to target specific drones while leaving others unaffected. One demonstration reportedly included taking down a selected drone while non-selected aircraft remained airborne, as well as guiding a disabled drone into a predetermined safe drop zone. [Tom's Hardware]tomshardware.comTom's Hardware High-power microwave system downs 49 drones in one shotelectronics warfare company, successfully demonstrated a major advancement in counter-drone technology with its Leonidas high-power micro…
These demonstrations suggest increasingly sophisticated control of HPM effects. However, selective engagement does not remove the need for deconfliction. Friendly drones still represent sensitive electronics operating near a system designed to overwhelm electronic systems with microwave energy. The safest approach remains keeping friendly aircraft outside the intended effects zone whenever possible.
Practical Methods for Keeping Friendly Drones Safe
Military organisations already employ airspace coordination measures for artillery, missiles, electronic warfare and aviation. HPM systems add another layer to that process.
Several practical approaches are likely to be important:
Dedicated drone corridors. Friendly drones can be assigned transit routes that avoid sectors covered by active counter-drone systems.
Protected mission windows. Reconnaissance or logistics flights can be scheduled during periods when HPM systems are unlikely to engage.
Shared situational awareness. Air-defence crews and drone operators require access to common operational pictures showing both friendly drone locations and anticipated engagement zones.
Dynamic exclusion zones. Rather than fixed boundaries, defended areas can expand or contract according to the current threat and operational priorities.
Layered command authority. HPM engagements may require confirmation that friendly unmanned aircraft have cleared the area before authorisation to fire.
The more densely populated the airspace becomes, the more valuable automated coordination tools are likely to become.
When Another Defensive Layer May Be Safer
One reason militaries rarely rely on a single counter-drone technology is that different threats create different deconfliction problems.
An HPM system is particularly attractive against dense swarms because one engagement can affect many drones simultaneously. Leonidas demonstrations have repeatedly emphasised this “one-to-many” capability, including a highly publicised event in which dozens of drones were neutralised in a single engagement. [The War Zone+2Epirus]twz.comEpirus describes IFPC-HPM as an effective, cost-efficientThe War ZoneArmy Puts $43M Bet On Next Gen Leonidas High Power…17 Jul 2025 — Leonidas is largely aimed at defeating unmanned aircraft…
However, if friendly drones are operating nearby, another defensive layer may sometimes present lower risk.
Examples include:
- Electronic warfare systems aimed at disrupting specific hostile links.
- Kinetic interceptors directed at individual targets.
- Short-range guns or missiles when engagement geometry is favourable.
- Defensive systems positioned away from friendly drone operating areas.
The choice depends on mission priorities. If a reconnaissance drone is providing critical targeting information, commanders may decide that preserving that asset is more important than immediately using a wide-area HPM effect. Conversely, during a mass swarm attack, accepting temporary restrictions on friendly drone operations may be preferable to allowing hostile drones to penetrate defences.
The key point is that Leonidas changes the geometry of air defence decisions. The question is no longer simply whether a hostile drone is within range. It is whether the airspace between the defender and the threat is sufficiently clear of friendly electronics to allow the microwave weapon to be employed safely.
The Real Goal Is Separation, Not Hardening
Public information provides little detail about whether specific friendly military drones are hardened against Leonidas-class microwave effects. Even if some systems receive enhanced protection, relying on hardening alone would be risky because HPM weapons are specifically designed to interact with electronics. [Office of Naval Research]navy.milOffice of Naval Research Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves HPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad sOffice of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe…
As a result, the most practical and scalable solution remains operational separation. Friendly drones survive by staying outside the effects zone, not by assuming they can tolerate exposure.
This reality makes airspace deconfliction one of the most important implementation challenges for Leonidas. The better the military becomes at tracking, routing and coordinating its own drones, the easier it becomes to exploit the system’s major advantage—defeating many hostile drones at once—without placing friendly unmanned aircraft in the path of the same electromagnetic effects. [GAO+2Epirus]gao.govgao 23 106717Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — For example, wider beam DEWs, such as high power microwave or millimete…
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Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Can Friendly Drones Survive the Defense?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The Kill Chain
Addresses networked warfare and avoiding fratricide in advanced systems.
Introduction to Electronic Warfare Modeling and Simulation
First published 2006. Subjects: Electronics in military engineering, Mathematical models, Computer simulation.
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Endnotes
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Title: gao 23 106717
Link: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106717Source snippet
Science & Tech Spotlight: Directed Energy Weapons25 May 2023 — For example, wider beam DEWs, such as high power microwave or millimete...
Published: May 2023
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Link: https://www.onr.navy.mil/organization/departments/code-35/division-353/directed-energy-weapons-high-power-[microwavesSource snippet
Office of Naval ResearchDirected Energy Weapons: High Power MicrowavesHPM weapons create beams of electromagnetic energy over a broad spe...
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EpirusEpirus Leonidas High-Power Microwave: Directed Energy...Leonidas is a solid-state, high-power HPM system, utilizing Gallium Nitrid...
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Title: Epirus describes IFPC-HPM as an effective, cost-efficient
Link: https://www.twz.com/land/army-puts-50m-bet-on-next-gen-leonidas-high-power-microwave-counter-drone-techSource snippet
The War ZoneArmy Puts $43M Bet On Next Gen Leonidas High Power...17 Jul 2025 — Leonidas is largely aimed at defeating unmanned aircraft...
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Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-leonidas-high-power-microwave-defeats-49-[drone-swarmSource snippet
EpirusEpirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone...10 Sept 2025 — Leonidas neutralized 61-of-61 drones, culminating in a 49...
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Source: tomshardware.com
Title: Tom’s Hardware High-power microwave system downs 49 drones in [one shot]({{ ‘one-shot/’ | relative_url }})
Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/high-power-microwave-system-downs-49-drones-in-one-shot-weaponized-electromagnetic-interference-erases-drone-swarms-en-masseSource snippet
electronics warfare company, successfully demonstrated a major advancement in counter-drone technology with its Leonidas high-power micro...
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Source: unmannedairspace.info
Title: epirus leonidas defeats 49 drone swarm with one electromagnetic burst
Link: https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/epirus-leonidas-defeats-49-drone-swarm-with-one-electromagnetic-burst/Source snippet
Epirus' Leonidas defeats 49-drone swarm with one...Sep 2, 2025 — Epirus has successfully demonstrated its Leonidas counter-drone system...
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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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Title: Epirus Leonidas
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Epirus LeonidasThe Leonidas is a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon developed to disable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms. It was n...
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secures additional $250M funding for the Leonidas...7 Mar 2025 — Epirus has announced it has successfully secured an additional $250 mil...
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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
Epirus zaps fibre-optic FPV with Leonidas microwave...28 Jan 2026 — Epirus has developed a microwave weapon called Leonidas that has dem...
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, Company Profile | Drone Intelligence2 May 2026 — High-power microwave (HPM) counter-drone systems. Leonidas platform is the leading non...
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Link: https://www.gdls.com/epirus-general-dynamics-land-systems-and-kodiak-ai-unveil-new-autonomous-hpm-system-for-counter-uas/Source snippet
Epirus, General Dynamics Land Systems and Kodiak AI...24 Mar 2026 — “Leonidas AGV combines autonomous mobility with high-power microwave...
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Title: airforce.gov.au Directed Energy Weapons
Link: https://airpower.airforce.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-03/BPAF03_Directed-Energy-Weapons.pdfSource snippet
Energy Weapons - Air and Space Power CentreA DEW is a weapon system that uses an energy source and a pointing system to control the deliv...
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Title: epirus confirms leonidas microwave system integration with dft platform
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Epirus confirms Leonidas microwave system integration...25 Feb 2026 — The combined system links autonomous detection and tracking with n...
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tic interference. “We believe showcasing our weaponized...
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Epirus’ Leonidas High-Power Microwave Neutralizes 61-of-61 Drones Across 5 Flight Scenarios...
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Drone Swarms Are Here. This Technology Could Stop Them...
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Epirus Leonidas HPM: The Premier Counter-Drone Swarm Solution...
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Leonidas Counter-Electronics System – Block 1...
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Epirus Leonidas command and control counter drone Epirus Leonidas: High-Power Microwave for Counter-Electronics Epirus...
Additional References
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The event highlighted a significant advancement in counter-drone technology amid growing global security concerns over drone swarms, whic...
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Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon successfully...RFDEWs are a type of directed energy weapon that neutralises threats by emitting h...
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Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1ntgl3j/usmade_leonidas_microwave_weapon_takes_down_49/Source snippet
US-made Leonidas microwave weapon takes down 49...They're cheap and plentiful, and reduce the cost discrepancy of drones vs missiles. Hi...
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U.S. Directed Energy Weapons SystemsThe Government Accountability Office explains what are Directed Energy Weapons and takes a look at ho...
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Directed Energy Weapons in CounterDrone Missile Defense4 May 2026 — These include energy beams like laser, microwave, or radio frequency...
Published: May 2026
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directed energy weapon technical maturity levels still laggingUS GAO report: directed energy weapon technical maturity levels still lagging...
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Title: counterdrone mission seen as killer app for directed energy
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Counter-UAS Mission Seen as Killer App for Directed Energy20 Jan 2026 — High-powered microwaves can blast more energy at a drone or drone...
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Title: marines microwave weapon hpm epirus leonidas [expeditionary]({{ ‘marine-variant/’ | relative_url }})
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Marines to get new drone-killing microwave weapon...Sep 23, 2024 — Epirus' new solid-state, long-pulse system is derived from the compan...
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Directed Energy Weapons: High Power Microwaves4 Oct 2016 — The weapon is designed to disrupt, degrade or destroy electronics of the targe...
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