Within Microwaves
How Much Do Live Fire Swarm Tests Prove?
Industry and UK demonstrations highlight the promise of low-cost, wide-area drone defeat while leaving important questions about test conditions and
On this page
- Reported drone defeat results
- Controlled range conditions and missing details
- What demonstrations can and cannot establish
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
Live-fire demonstrations of high-power microwave (HPM) weapons are often presented as evidence that drone swarms can be defeated quickly and cheaply. Two of the most widely cited examples are Epirus’s Leonidas system in the United States and the United Kingdom’s RapidDestroyer radio-frequency directed-energy weapon demonstrator. Both programmes have reported striking results against multiple drones in realistic firing events, helping to establish microwave weapons as a serious counter-swarm option. However, the public evidence remains heavily weighted toward company and government announcements rather than independently verifiable operational testing. The key question is therefore not whether these systems can affect drones—they clearly can—but how much their headline results reveal about real battlefield performance. [Epirus]epirusinc.com2025 · Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown at Live-Fire Demonstration. September…Read more…
Reported Drone Defeat Results
Leonidas has generated some of the most ambitious public claims in the counter-swarm sector. In a September 2025 live-fire demonstration at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Epirus stated that its latest system neutralised 61 of 61 drones flown during five test scenarios. The headline result was a reported defeat of a 49-drone swarm using a single burst of electromagnetic energy. Company statements described the demonstration as a 100% success rate and emphasised that military representatives and foreign observers attended the event. [Epirus+2Axios]epirusinc.com2025 · Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown at Live-Fire Demonstration. September…Read more…
Epirus subsequently highlighted another demonstration in December 2025 involving a fibre-optic-guided drone. These aircraft are significant because they do not rely on radio links for control and therefore cannot be defeated by conventional command-link jamming. The company reported that Leonidas successfully disrupted or disabled the drone during a government-observed live-fire event, presenting the result as evidence that microwave effects can extend beyond traditional electronic warfare techniques. [Epirus+2Tectonic Defense]epirusinc.comEpirus Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High- …Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to DEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High- …Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
The UK’s RapidDestroyer programme has also produced notable public claims. In trials announced by the Ministry of Defence in April 2025, British soldiers reportedly tracked, targeted and defeated drone swarms using a Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF-DEW). The government stated that more than 100 drones were tracked, engaged and defeated across the testing campaign, including scenarios involving swarms. Reports from the trials indicated that two swarms of eight drones were neutralised during a recent demonstration. [GOV.UK+2Financial Times]GOV.UKBritish soldiers take down drone swarm in groundbreaking…17 Apr 2025 — British soldiers have successfully tracked, targeted and defeat…
Further testing announced in 2026 reported that an upgraded RapidDestroyer configuration neutralised 80 drones across individual scenarios, suggesting continued development and increasing performance. [Thales Group]thalesgroup.comThales and E2V demonstrated the upgraded 4 panelThales GroupThales energy weapon neutralises 80 drones in successful…2 Jun 2026 — Building on previous successes, RapidDestroyer neutr…
Controlled Range Conditions and Missing Details
The impressive numbers attract attention, but the publicly available information leaves major questions unanswered.
For Leonidas, the most cited figures come directly from company announcements and associated media coverage. While observers from defence organisations reportedly attended demonstrations, detailed technical data have not been released publicly. Critical variables remain unknown, including:
- Exact ranges to targets.
- Drone types and electronic configurations.
- Formation density within the swarm.
- Environmental conditions.
- Number of unsuccessful engagements during development.
- Effects against hardened or shielded electronics.
Without such information, it is difficult to determine whether a 49-drone engagement reflects a broadly representative operational capability or a particularly favourable test configuration. [Epirus+2Axios]epirusinc.com2025 · Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown at Live-Fire Demonstration. September…Read more…
The fibre-optic drone demonstration illustrates a similar limitation. The claim is noteworthy because fibre-optic-guided drones have become increasingly important in Ukraine and are designed specifically to avoid radio-frequency interference. However, public reporting does not disclose the drone’s design details, the engagement geometry, the mechanism of failure, or whether permanent damage occurred. The demonstration shows that microwave energy can affect at least one such system, but it does not establish how consistently this result would occur across different fibre-optic drone designs. [Epirus+2Tectonic Defense]epirusinc.comEpirus Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High- …Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to DEpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High- …Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De…
RapidDestroyer’s published results contain comparable gaps. Government releases confirm successful engagements against swarms and large numbers of drones across the testing programme, yet detailed performance metrics remain sparse. Public documents do not fully explain:
- The engagement ranges achieved.
- Whether drones were destroyed or merely disrupted.
- How performance changed against different swarm tactics.
- The impact of weather and terrain.
- The effect on friendly electronic systems operating nearby.
As with Leonidas, the trials demonstrate capability but provide only a partial picture of operational robustness. [GOV.UK+2Financial Times]GOV.UKBritish soldiers take down drone swarm in groundbreaking…17 Apr 2025 — British soldiers have successfully tracked, targeted and defeat…
What Demonstrations Can and Cannot Establish
The strongest conclusion from these demonstrations is that high-power microwave systems are no longer purely laboratory concepts. Both Leonidas and RapidDestroyer have repeatedly affected multiple airborne targets in live firing conditions rather than in static bench tests. This is important because swarm defence is fundamentally a one-to-many problem, and both systems have shown the ability to engage groups of drones rather than individual aircraft. [Epirus]epirusinc.com2025 · Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown at Live-Fire Demonstration. September…Read more…
The demonstrations also suggest that microwave weapons may offer a different cost equation from missile-based air defence. RapidDestroyer’s developers have emphasised a very low cost per engagement, while Leonidas is promoted as a reusable system capable of repeated shots against large numbers of inexpensive drones. These characteristics are precisely what military planners seek when confronting mass drone attacks. [Business Insider]businessinsider.comThis marks the first time in the UK that such a directed energy weapon, developed by a consortium led by French firm Thales, has eliminat…
However, the tests do not prove several broader claims that are sometimes inferred from the headlines.
They do not prove that any microwave system can reliably defeat every type of swarm. Real adversaries can vary drone altitude, spacing, shielding, flight paths and electronic architectures. They can mix autonomous and remotely controlled systems, employ decoys, or attack from multiple directions simultaneously. Public demonstrations rarely reveal how a weapon performs against the full range of these complications. [Financial Times]ft.comThis weapon emits a wide beam of radio frequency energy designed to disable or destroy drones by damaging their electronic systems. Durin…
Nor do the demonstrations establish sustained battlefield effectiveness. A successful engagement against dozens of drones during a trial does not automatically answer questions about power generation, mobility, maintenance demands, electromagnetic compatibility, crew workload or repeated operations under combat conditions. These factors often determine whether a promising technology becomes a practical military capability. [Financial Times]ft.comThis weapon emits a wide beam of radio frequency energy designed to disable or destroy drones by damaging their electronic systems. Durin…
Why the Claims Still Matter
Even with the missing details, Leonidas and RapidDestroyer represent some of the most substantial public evidence supporting the concept of microwave counter-swarm defence. The reported defeat of dozens of drones in single engagements directly addresses the core challenge that has driven interest in HPM weapons: conventional air-defence systems struggle economically when confronted by large numbers of cheap unmanned aircraft. [Epirus+2Axios]epirusinc.com2025 · Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown at Live-Fire Demonstration. September…Read more…
The demonstrations therefore establish military interest and technical plausibility rather than definitive proof of battlefield dominance. They show that wide-area electromagnetic effects can disable multiple drones under controlled live-fire conditions. What they do not yet provide is the transparency necessary to judge how often those results can be reproduced against adaptive opponents in operational environments. Until more detailed test data or combat evidence emerge, the Leonidas and RapidDestroyer live-fire claims should be viewed as strong indicators of potential capability rather than conclusive demonstrations of real-world performance. [Epirus+2GOV.UK]epirusinc.com2025 · Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown at Live-Fire Demonstration. September…Read more…
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Endnotes
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Source: GOV.UK
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-soldiers-take-down-drone-swarm-in-groundbreaking-use-of-radio-wave-weaponSource snippet
British soldiers take down drone swarm in groundbreaking...17 Apr 2025 — British soldiers have successfully tracked, targeted and defeat...
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Source: axios.com
Link: https://www.axios.com/2025/08/28/epirus-indiana-drone-swarm-demo-leonidasSource snippet
The event highlighted a significant advancement in counter-drone technology amid growing global security concerns over drone swarms, whic...
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Source: epirusinc.com
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
2025 · Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown at Live-Fire Demonstration. September...Read more...
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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
EpirusEpirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-...Epirus' Leonidas Demonstrates Successful Use of High-Power Microwave to De...
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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 — Leonidas is a vehicle-mounted high-power microwave (...
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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: ft.com
Link: https://www.ft.com/content/41703199-201e-4702-b34a-a0a633cdfcf5?syn-25a6b1a6=1Source snippet
Financial TimesUK tests microwave weapon to disable drone swarms16 Apr 2025 — Two swarms of eight drones were neutralised by the weapon i...
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Source: ft.com
Link: https://www.ft.com/content/41703199-201e-4702-b34a-a0a633cdfcf5Source snippet
This weapon emits a wide beam of radio frequency energy designed to disable or destroy drones by damaging their electronic systems. Durin...
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Source: thalesgroup.com
Title: Thales and E2V demonstrated the upgraded 4 panel
Link: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/news-centre/news-brief/united-kingdom/thales-energy-weapon-neutralises-80-drones-successful-trialSource snippet
Thales GroupThales energy weapon neutralises 80 drones in successful...2 Jun 2026 — Building on previous successes, RapidDestroyer neutr...
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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: businessinsider.com
Link: https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-took-down-swarm-drones-new-radio-weapon-rfdew-thales-2025-4Source snippet
This marks the first time in the UK that such a directed energy weapon, developed by a consortium led by French firm Thales, has eliminat...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na0pGfopahM -
Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbN5WM_Smgm5AmscysS-e4gSource snippet
EpirusEpirus is a high-growth technology company dedicated to overcoming the asymmetric challenges inherent to the future of national sec...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrkopSw5uasSource snippet
100% successful against drones flown...
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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: 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. It was n...
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Source: evotek.vn
Link: https://evotek.vn/en/epirus-leonidas-hpm-system-obliterates-49-drones-in-[one-shotSource snippet
Epirus Leonidas HPM System Obliterates 49 Drones In...29 Sept 2025 — During live-fire trials, the latest iteration of the Epirus Leonida...
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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: 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: 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/Source snippet
Epirus - Home of Leonidas, the Premier High-Power...Epirus' Leonidas High-Power Microwave Defeats 49-Drone Swarm, 100% of Drones Flown a...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/epirus_epirus-leonidas-high-power-microwave-defeats-activity-7371575751776608256-i0zZSource snippet
tic interference. “We believe showcasing our weaponized...
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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/mike-hiatt-06420ba_epirus-leonidas-high-power-microwave-defeats-activity-7371594652946264064-WSfdSource snippet
49,267 followers. 8mo Edited. 49-drone swarm defeated with one instant & low-[collateral]({{ 'collateral-risk/' | relative_url }}) pulse of electromagnetic interference. “We...Rea...
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Source: linkedin.com
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andylowery_epirus-leonidas-disables-fiber-optic-uas-activity-7416881546617360385-_ifgSource snippet
Epirus Leonidas HPM Defeats Fiber-Optic Guided UASOur December 2025 live-fire technology demonstration marks the first known instance of...
Published: December 2025
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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: 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: semiconductor-today.com
Link: https://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2025/sep/epirus-300925.shtmlSource snippet
Epirus' GaN-based Leonidas high-power microwave...Sep 30, 2025 — In a live-fire demonstration across five operationally relevant flight...
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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...
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Source: inss.org.il
Title: innovative systems for neutralizing drone and uav swarms
Link: https://www.inss.org.il/social_media/innovative-systems-for-neutralizing-drone-and-uav-swarms/Source snippet
Epirus released new documentation showing that its Leonidas system successfully intercepted a swarm of 49 drones simultaneously. The...R...
Additional References
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Source: reddit.com
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...... Sparta -- Leonidas wiped out all 61 drones in the demo: r/technology. Close searc...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZS677cMBYM/Source snippet
📸: Thales UK has reportedly completed new trials of its...RapidDestroyer emits high-power RF pulses to disrupt drone electronics without...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1191300768283373/posts/1922024268544349/ -
Source: facebook.com
Title: us defense firm epirus has showcased its leonidas high power microwave hpm weapo
Link: https://www.facebook.com/fossbytes/posts/us-defense-firm-epirus-has-showcased-its-leonidas-high-power-microwave-hpm-weapo/1238619954972713/Source snippet
defense firm Epirus has showcased its Leonidas high-...In a live demonstration, it disabled 61 drones — taking down 49 in a single burst...
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Source: defensescoop.com
Title: british troops test drone zapper radio frequency directed energy weapon rfdew
Link: https://defensescoop.com/2024/12/23/british-troops-test-drone-zapper-radio-frequency-directed-energy-weapon-rfdew/Source snippet
British troops test new drone swarm zapper23 Dec 2024 — The British military recently conducted its first-ever successful, live-fire test...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkuF5llESK4 -
Source: thedefensewatch.com
Title: uk thales rapiddestroyer radio frequency weapon counter uas trials 2026
Link: https://thedefensewatch.com/cyber-space-defense/uk-thales-rapiddestroyer-radio-frequency-weapon-counter-uas-trials-2026/Source snippet
UK Tests Thales RapidDestroyer Radio Frequency...8 Jun 2026 — The UK has tested Thales' RapidDestroyer radio frequency weapon, neutraliz...
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Source: tomshardware.com
Title: Tom’s Hardware High-power microwave system downs 49 drones in one shot
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: newsflare.com
Title: jaw dropping new weapon knocks dozens of attacking drones out of sky
Link: https://www.newsflare.com/video/792400/jaw-dropping-new-weapon-knocks-dozens-of-attacking-drones-out-of-skySource snippet
Jaw-dropping new weapon knocks dozens of attacking drones...Californian company Epirus has carried out live-fire demonstrations of the s...
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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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