Within Army Contracts
Why Four Prototypes Changed the Story
The first Army prototype order mattered because it turned Leonidas from a demo system into equipment the service had to test, train on, and support.
On this page
- What the 2023 award actually funded
- Why multiple systems mattered more than one demo
- How the order reshaped market confidence
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Introduction
The Army’s decision to order four Leonidas high-power microwave prototypes in 2023 changed the programme’s credibility because it transformed Leonidas from a promising demonstration into equipment that the service was obligated to evaluate, train on, maintain and integrate into a real military capability. The significance was not simply the $66.1 million contract value. The order created a structured pathway from technology demonstration to operational assessment, giving Leonidas a level of institutional validation that most directed-energy systems never receive. By funding multiple systems rather than a single test article, the Army signalled that it was examining not just whether the technology worked, but whether it could function as a deployable counter-drone capability. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirus U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype…
Within the broader story of Army prototype contracts and Leonidas momentum, the four-system award became the moment when the programme shifted from claims and demonstrations to measurable evidence.
What the 2023 Award Actually Funded
In January 2023, the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) awarded Epirus a contract worth approximately $66.1 million under the Indirect Fire Protection Capability–High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) effort. The contract called for the delivery of four Leonidas-derived prototypes rather than a single experimental unit. The programme was designed to explore a microwave-based defence against drone swarms and other small unmanned aircraft threats. [Epirus+2Breaking Defense]epirusinc.comEpirus U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype…
The contract also contained a more important signal: it explicitly envisioned a transition toward a future programme of record if the prototypes proved successful. In defence acquisition terms, that meant the Army was treating Leonidas as a candidate capability rather than a temporary technology demonstration. The award therefore tested not only microwave effects against drones, but also manufacturing, logistics, supportability and military utility. [Epirus+2PR Newswire]epirusinc.comEpirus U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype…
This distinction mattered because directed-energy programmes frequently generate impressive demonstrations without progressing into military procurement pipelines. The Army’s prototype order placed Leonidas inside an official acquisition framework where performance would be judged against operational requirements rather than marketing claims. [Task & Purpose]taskandpurpose.comarmy microwave weapon drone swarms ifpc hpm contractTask & PurposeArmy awards Epirus contract for counter-drone microwave…26 Jan 2023 — The IFPC-HPM system is intended to provide a groun…
Why Multiple Systems Mattered More Than One Demo
A single prototype can prove that a technology works under controlled conditions. Four prototypes allow a military organisation to determine whether a capability can actually be fielded.
That difference reshaped perceptions of Leonidas.
With multiple systems available, the Army could:
- Conduct testing at different locations and under different conditions.
- Train soldiers while developmental assessments continued.
- Evaluate reliability across more than one unit.
- Examine sustainment and maintenance requirements.
- Explore how several microwave systems might operate as part of a broader air-defence architecture. [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 four-system structure also reduced the risk that positive results could be dismissed as the performance of a specially prepared demonstration article. Defence buyers often distinguish between a prototype built to impress evaluators and a prototype built repeatedly enough to reveal manufacturing, reliability and support challenges. By ordering four systems, the Army forced Leonidas to confront those realities. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirus U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype…
Another credibility boost came from competitive selection. According to reporting on the award, Leonidas emerged from Army evaluations against multiple competing systems. That did not guarantee eventual procurement, but it provided evidence that government evaluators had already compared the technology against alternatives before committing to the prototype phase. [Breaking Defense]breakingdefense.comus army selects epirus leonidas for high power microwave initiativeBreaking DefenseUS Army selects Epirus' Leonidas for high-power…23 Jan 2023 — Epirus, a technology company developing directed-energy…
The Real Test Began After Contract Award
The strongest evidence that the order changed perceptions came after the contract was signed.
In November 2023, Epirus delivered the first IFPC-HPM prototype to the Army after government acceptance testing. Delivery moved Leonidas from contractor-controlled demonstrations into Army hands, where soldiers and programme officials could begin assessing it as military equipment. [Breaking Defense+2DefenseScoop]breakingdefense.comBreaking Defense Army gets its hands on new high-power microwaveBreaking DefenseArmy gets its hands on new high-power microwave…November 1, 2023 — 1 Nov 2023 — The delivery marks the first of four p…
The larger credibility shift occurred in 2024 when all four systems were delivered and the programme completed New Equipment Training (NET) and Engineering Developmental Testing (EDT). Those activities required soldiers to learn operation and maintenance procedures and provided structured opportunities to evaluate effectiveness against unmanned aircraft and drone swarms. [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…
These milestones are easy to overlook outside defence circles, but they are often where experimental technologies fail. A system may demonstrate impressive technical effects yet struggle with usability, sustainment, training burdens or integration requirements. The completion of deliveries, training and developmental testing indicated that Leonidas had progressed beyond the stage where credibility depended solely on vendor demonstrations. [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…
How the Order Reshaped Market Confidence
The defence market generally treats prototype contracts differently from demonstrations. Demonstrations show possibility; funded prototypes indicate government interest in operational relevance.
The Army’s four-prototype order changed how investors, competitors and military observers viewed Leonidas for several reasons.
It created a measurable programme. Instead of discussing theoretical performance, observers could track deliveries, testing milestones and Army evaluations. [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…
It established an acquisition pathway. The original contract language discussed transition to a future programme of record after successful demonstrations, giving the effort a visible route toward long-term adoption. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirus U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype…
It generated follow-on investment. Subsequent Army contracts for upgraded IFPC-HPM capabilities and additional development work reflected confidence that the initial prototype effort produced useful results rather than a dead-end experiment. Army and company statements later pointed to favourable outcomes from testing and continued programme evolution. [Epirus+2ASDNews]epirusinc.comepirus receives 43 million contract from u s army for ifpc hpm generation ii systemsEpirusEpirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for …17 Jul 2025 — "Our first IFPC-HPM prototypes were put through the wrin…
It differentiated Leonidas from many directed-energy projects. Numerous counter-drone technologies receive demonstrations or short-term evaluations. Far fewer receive multiple government-funded prototypes, soldier training programmes, developmental testing and continued investment after delivery. [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…
Why the Four-Prototype Decision Still Matters
The importance of the four-system award lies less in the number itself than in what the number enabled. One prototype could have demonstrated a microwave effect against drones. Four prototypes enabled a military evaluation process.
That distinction changed Leonidas’ credibility because it shifted the central question. Before the award, observers largely asked whether the technology could disable drone swarms. After the award, the Army began asking whether the capability could be fielded, sustained, trained on and eventually incorporated into operational air-defence forces. The existence of four Army-funded prototypes made that second question possible, and that is why the 2023 order became a turning point in the programme’s trajectory. [Epirus+2Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirus U.SArmy Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™…23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype…
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Endnotes
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Source: defensescoop.com
Title: microwave weapon
Link: https://defensescoop.com/2023/01/23/microwave-weapon/Source snippet
Army awards $66M contract to Epirus for microwave...23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototyp...
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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 prototype1 Nov 2023 — Epirus has delivered the first prototype under its contract with the...
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Source: asdnews.com
Title: epirus secures 17m contract us army
Link: https://www.asdnews.com/news/defense/2024/10/15/epirus-secures-17m-contract-us-armySource snippet
Epirus Secures $17M Contract from US Army15 Oct 2024 — RCCTO awarded Epirus a $66 million other transaction authority (OTA) for the rapid...
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Source: army.mil
Link: https://www.army.mil/article/284417/developmental_testing_begins_on_prototypes_for_future_tactical_uncrewed_aircraft_systemsSource snippet
Developmental testing begins on prototypes for Future...4 Apr 2025 — On 18 March 2025, the United States Army's Future Tactical Uncrewed...
Published: March 2025
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Source: youtube.com
Title: This MICROWAVE Weapon Could END Russia’s War
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9V9SYcF8QcSource snippet
Epirus’ Leonidas High-Power Microwave Neutralizes 61-of-61 Drones Across 5 Flight Scenarios...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na0pGfopahMSource 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
The US Army receive of tens Mobile Protected Firepower vehicles in 2024...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Title: Epirus U.S
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/u-s-army-awards-epirus-66-1m-contract-for-leonidas-tm-directed-energy-systemSource snippet
Army Awards Epirus $66.1M Contract for Leonidas™...23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype...
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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...23 Jan 2023 — Epirus, a technology company developing directed-energy...
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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
24 Jan 2023 — The $66.1m prototyping contract award will support the army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Power Microwave (IFP...
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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™...23 Jan 2023 — Epirus collaborates with the RCCTO to rapidly deliver several prototype...
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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...26 Jan 2023 — The IFPC-HPM system is intended to provide a groun...
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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: breakingdefense.com
Title: Breaking Defense Army gets its hands on new high-power microwave
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...November 1, 2023 — 1 Nov 2023 — The delivery marks the first of four p...
Published: November 1, 2023
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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-iiSource snippet
EpirusEpirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for...17 Jul 2025 — "Our first IFPC-HPM prototypes were put through the wrin...
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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
Journal of Electromagnetic DominanceEpirus Secures IFPC-HPM Upgrade Contract from US Army25 Nov 2024 — The RCCTO in January 2023 awarded...
Published: January 2023
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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 — In 2023, Epirus' Leonidas was selected for the Integrated Fires Protection Capability...
Additional References
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Source: fw-mag.com
Link: https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1030/sas-2026-leonidas-hpm-c-uxs-system-has-successful-testsSource snippet
LEONIDAS HPM C-UxS system has successful testsThe goal is to containerize LEONIDAS H2O for multi-class vessel integration. LEONIDAS H2O i...
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Source: unmannedairspace.info
Link: https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/us-army-issues-sole-source-notice-for-epirus-c-uas-prototype/Source snippet
US Army issues sole source notice for Epirus C-UAS...Epirus delivered its first IFPC-HPM system to RCCTO in November 2023, nine months a...
Published: November 2023
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Source: ins-news.com
Title: Army gets its hands on new high power microwave prototype from Epirus
Link: https://www.ins-news.com/en/100/1133/3099/Army-gets-its-hands-on-new-high-power-microwave-prototype-from-Epirus.htmSource snippet
Army gets its hands on new high-power microwave prototype...2 Nov 2023 — The delivery marks the first of four prototypes derived from th...
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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
US Army Receives Epirus Leonidas Counter-UAS Prototype2 Nov 2023 — Epirus said its Leonidas air defense solution designed to defeat drone...
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Source: aicerts.ai
Title: giant [microwaves]({{ ‘microwaves/’ | relative_url }}) reshape future war doctrine
Link: https://www.aicerts.ai/news/giant-microwaves-reshape-future-war-doctrine/Source snippet
On 17 July 2025, Epirus secured a $43.5 million contract for IFPC-HPM Generation II. Consequently, range doubled and power increased thir...
Published: July 2025
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/rnznewzealand/posts/the-projects-maven-smart-systems-mss-enabled-us-forces-to-deploy-over-2000-munit/1488126170019993/Source snippet
; these will head into operational tests in 2024. The IFPC-HPM...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ukdefencejournal/posts/project-crenic-the-british-programme-developing-electronic-countermeasures-to-pr/1416037840569475/Source snippet
ing its Challenger 2 tanks with anti-drone cages.Read more...
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Source: euro-sd.com
Title: sitrep us army priority programmes
Link: https://euro-sd.com/2024/10/articles/40824/sitrep-us-army-priority-programmes/Source snippet
SITREP: US Army priority programmes14 Oct 2024 — The prototype completed its risk-reduction flight demonstration in December 2023, and pr...
Published: December 2023
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Source: defencefinancemonitor.com
Title: non kinetic counter uas with high
Link: https://www.defencefinancemonitor.com/p/non-kinetic-counter-uas-with-highSource snippet
Non-Kinetic Counter-UAS with High Power Microwave8 Dec 2025 — The US Army having four Leonidas prototypes indicates they envision a batte...
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Source: thedefensepost.com
Title: us army microwave drone
Link: https://thedefensepost.com/2023/11/02/us-army-microwave-drone/Source snippet
US Army Receives First Microwave-Based Counter Drone...2 Nov 2023 — Epirus has delivered the first of four high-powered microwave-based...
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