Within Army Contracts
When Soldiers Took Over Leonidas
Training and developmental testing showed whether soldiers could operate and maintain Leonidas outside contractor-led demonstrations.
On this page
- What New Equipment Training tested
- Why developmental testing changes the question
- What operators can reveal that demos cannot
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Introduction
Leonidas did not become a serious Army capability simply because it could disable drones. It gained momentum because soldiers, not company engineers, began operating it. The transition from contractor-led demonstrations to Army-run training and developmental testing answered a question that every military technology eventually faces: can ordinary units use, maintain and evaluate the system under military conditions? For the Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability–High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) effort, New Equipment Training (NET) and Engineering Developmental Testing (EDT) became the bridge between a promising directed-energy prototype and equipment that could plausibly enter operational service. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…May 15, 2024 — Los Angeles, California – May 15, 2024 – Epirus announced…
By May 2024, all four Leonidas-derived IFPC-HPM systems had been delivered to the Army, and both NET and EDT had been completed. Army and industry officials described these milestones as key steps toward issuing the systems to an operational unit rather than keeping them as experimental hardware. [Epirus+2PR Newswire]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…May 15, 2024 — Los Angeles, California – May 15, 2024 – Epirus announced…
What New Equipment Training Tested
In Army acquisition, New Equipment Training is more than a familiarisation course. It is the process through which soldiers learn whether a new system can realistically fit into military operations. For Leonidas, this meant moving beyond demonstrations where contractor personnel controlled setup, operation and troubleshooting. [Epirus]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…May 15, 2024 — Los Angeles, California – May 15, 2024 – Epirus announced…
The training effort examined practical questions:
- How quickly can soldiers learn system operation?
- Can crews conduct routine maintenance without contractor intervention?
- Are controls and software understandable to military operators?
- Can air-defence personnel integrate the system into existing defensive procedures?
- What level of technical support is required to keep the system available for missions?
The Army Air Defense Artillery community participated in the training process, giving the programme feedback from the branch that would eventually employ the capability. According to programme announcements, soldiers were trained on system use while operational capability and limitation assessments were also conducted. [LinkedIn]linkedin.comLinked In Andy Lowery's Post Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM SystemsLinked In Andy Lowery's Post Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems
This distinction matters because military adoption is often limited by usability rather than performance. A weapon that works under ideal conditions may still fail if it requires specialised expertise, excessive maintenance or continuous contractor support.
Why Developmental Testing Changes the Question
Contractor demonstrations generally ask whether a technology can achieve a desired effect. Developmental testing asks whether the military can depend on it.
The first IFPC-HPM prototype delivered in November 2023 arrived after government acceptance testing that validated important safety characteristics and allowed the Army to begin handling the system directly. Army evaluation activities then shifted toward understanding how the capability performed under military oversight rather than company-controlled events. [Epirus+2Acuity Partners]epirusinc.comEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to U.S. Army, Completes New Equipment Training and Engineering Developmental Testing…
Engineering Developmental Testing examined factors that rarely attract public attention but often determine programme success:
- Reliability over repeated use.
- Maintainability in field conditions.
- Safety for personnel and nearby equipment.
- Integration with Army air-defence concepts.
- Performance consistency across different operational scenarios.
The Army’s testing process was designed not only to verify counter-drone effectiveness but also to generate the data needed for future acquisition decisions. Defence reporting noted that Army evaluations would feed the development of tactics, techniques and procedures for operational employment. [Defense News]defensenews.comArmy to counter drone swarms as part of the service's Indirect Fire ProtectionDefense NewsArmy gets first high-power microwave prototype to counter …November 1, 2023 — 1 Nov 2023 — Epirus has delivered the first p…
That represents a fundamental change in status. Once a system begins informing doctrine, training procedures and operational concepts, it is no longer being treated merely as an experiment.
What Operators Can Reveal That Demos Cannot
Soldiers evaluate equipment differently from developers.
A contractor demonstration is typically designed to showcase strengths. Military operators focus on friction points: setup time, workload, maintenance burden, reliability and ease of use during realistic missions. As soldiers began working with IFPC-HPM systems, they generated a form of evidence that laboratory demonstrations could not provide. [Breaking Defense]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 US Army has accepted delivery of Epirus's first high…
Operator feedback can reveal issues such as:
Crew workload. A technically successful weapon may still be impractical if it requires excessive attention from operators already managing multiple threats.
Training burden. Systems requiring lengthy qualification pipelines face greater barriers to fielding.
Maintenance realities. Soldiers identify recurring faults, replacement requirements and sustainment challenges that rarely appear in demonstration events.
Operational fit. Units assess whether a capability complements existing air-defence procedures or creates new complications.
Evidence from subsequent Army discussions suggests that developmental testing produced both positive performance data and insights into areas needing improvement. Later programme announcements specifically referenced demonstrated effectiveness while also highlighting efforts to make the systems easier for soldiers to employ. [Microwave Journal+2PR Newswire]microwavejournal.comMicrowave Journal Epirus Secures $17 M Contract From U.SArmyOct 15, 2024 — In May 2024, Epirus announced the delivery of four IFPC-HPM systems to the Army after successful completion of enginee…
That combination is typical of successful military prototyping. The goal is not merely to prove that a weapon works, but to identify what must change before widespread operational use becomes practical.
The Shift From Prototype to Operational Candidate
The significance of NET and EDT lies in what they enabled next. Completion of training and developmental testing positioned the Army to consider issuing the systems to operational units and conducting broader evaluations with military personnel. Epirus explicitly described these milestones as steps on the path toward operational fielding. [Epirus+2PR Newswire]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…May 15, 2024 — Los Angeles, California – May 15, 2024 – Epirus announced…
The programme’s trajectory after these events reinforces their importance. Follow-on Army investments in next-generation IFPC-HPM systems cited the effectiveness, usability and safety demonstrated by the initial systems while seeking additional performance validation to inform future programme-of-record decisions. [PR Newswire+2Yahoo Finance]prnewswire.comPR Newswire Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.SArmy for…Jul 17, 2025 — Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to U.S. Army, Completes New Equipment Training and Engineer…
In other words, the Army did not simply purchase prototypes and observe demonstrations. It trained soldiers, gathered operational feedback, measured usability and built a body of evidence about how the technology functioned in military hands. That process transformed Leonidas from a promising directed-energy demonstration into a candidate for real Army employment.
Why This Stage Matters More Than the Demonstration
The most important achievement of the Leonidas IFPC-HPM effort was not a single drone-defeat event or a headline-grabbing test. It was proving that Army personnel could begin taking ownership of the capability.
New Equipment Training established whether soldiers could learn and sustain the system. Engineering Developmental Testing established whether the Army could trust the data, understand the limitations and begin building operational concepts around the technology. Together, these activities shifted the discussion from “Can Leonidas defeat drones?” to “Can the Army field and use this capability?” [Epirus+2PR Newswire]epirusinc.comEpirusEpirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to…May 15, 2024 — Los Angeles, California – May 15, 2024 – Epirus announced…
For any emerging directed-energy weapon, that is the moment when a prototype starts becoming military equipment.
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Endnotes
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Source: linkedin.com
Title: Linked In Andy Lowery’s Post Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andylowery_epirus-finalizes-delivery-of-four-ifpc-hpm-activity-7196498881017188352-oKq2 -
Source: finance.yahoo.com
Title: Finance Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S
Link: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/epirus-receives-43-5-million-132000418.htmlSource snippet
Army for...Jul 17, 2025 — The IFPC-HPM GEN II systems will build upon the four IFPC-HPM systems Epirus delivered to U.S. Army in May 202...
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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/epirus_epirus-finalizes-delivery-of-four-ifpc-hpm-activity-7196496478012342272-L1vWSource snippet
ew Equipment Training and Engineering Developmental Testing...
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Source: linkedin.com
Title: Casey Hinckley’s Post Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems
Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/casey-hinckley-62363048_epirus-finalizes-delivery-of-four-ifpc-hpm-activity-7196503076373938178-6-EQ -
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: youtube.com
Title: This MICROWAVE Weapon Could END Russia’s War
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9V9SYcF8QcSource snippet
Epirus GDLS: [Stryker]({{ 'stryker/' | relative_url }}) Leonidas, Surveillance Drone Destroyer...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Epirus GDLS: Stryker Leonidas, Surveillance Drone Destroyer
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbbQ6KyTZecSource snippet
U.S. Air Force Tests Directed Energy Counter-UAS Weapon Defense Watch · 254 views...
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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...May 15, 2024 — Los Angeles, California – May 15, 2024 – Epirus announced...
Published: May 15, 2024
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Source: prnewswire.com
Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epirus-finalizes-delivery-of-four-ifpc-hpm-systems-to-us-army-completes-new-equipment-training-and-engineering-developmental-testing-302145453.htmlSource snippet
Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to...May 15, 2024 — Epirus announced today that it has delivered the final two of fou...
Published: May 15, 2024
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-delivers-ifpc-hpm-counter-swarm-system-to-u-s-army-developing-pathway-to-field-high-power-microwave-capabilitySource snippet
Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to U.S. Army, Completes New Equipment Training and Engineering Developmental Testing...
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Source: acuitypartnersnyc.com
Title: Acuity Partners Epirus Delivers IFPC-HPM Counter-Swarm System to U.S
Link: https://acuitypartnersnyc.com/epirus-delivers-ifpc-hpm-counter-swarm-system-to-u-s-army-developing-pathway-to-field-high-power-microwave-capability/Source snippet
Nov 22, 2023 — Epirus delivered its HPM weapon after successfully completing a recent U.S. Army-sponsored government acceptance test. The...
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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 US Army has accepted delivery of Epirus's first high...
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Source: defensenews.com
Title: Army to counter drone [swarms]({{ ‘swarms/’ | relative_url }}) as part of the service’s Indirect Fire Protection
Link: https://www.defensenews.com/[battlefieldSource snippet
Defense NewsArmy gets first high-power microwave prototype to counter...November 1, 2023 — 1 Nov 2023 — Epirus has delivered the first p...
Published: November 1, 2023
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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 — In May 2024, Epirus announced the delivery of four IFPC-HPM systems to the Army after successful completion of enginee...
Published: May 2024
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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...Jul 17, 2025 — Epirus Finalizes Delivery of Four IFPC-HPM Systems to U.S. Army, Completes New Equipment Training and Engineer...
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Source: unmannedairspace.info
Link: https://www.unmannedairspace.info/counter-uas-systems-and-policies/epirus-completes-us-army-tests-for-hpm-systems/Source snippet
Epirus completes US Army tests for HPM systemsEDT was conducted throughout April to assess the military utility and effectiveness of the...
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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]({{ 'microwaves/' | relative_url }}) (HPM), AI, an...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Title: epirus secures 17m contract from u s army
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/press-releases/epirus-secures-17m-contract-from-u-s-armySource snippet
Epirus secures $17M contract from U.S. Army14 Oct 2024 — Epirus delivered the first IFPC-HPM system just nine months after contract award...
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Source: epirusinc.com
Link: https://www.epirusinc.com/electronic-warfareSource snippet
Army, Completes New Equipment Training and Engineering Developmental Testing. This is some text...Read more...
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Source: thedefensepost.com
Title: us anti drone directed energy weapons
Link: https://thedefensepost.com/2024/05/17/us-anti-drone-directed-energy-weapons/Source snippet
Epirus Completes Delivery of Anti-Drone Directed Energy...17 May 2024 — Alongside finalizing the delivery, the company also concluded th...
Published: May 2024
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Source: microwavejournal.com
Title: Epirus Receives $43.5 M Contract from U.S
Link: https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/44510-epirus-receives-435-m-contract-from-us-army-for-ifpc-hpm-generation-ii-systemsSource snippet
Army for IFPC...18 Jul 2025 — The IFPC-HPM GEN II systems will build upon the four iFPC-HPM systems Epirus delivered to U.S. Army in May...
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Source: microwavejournal.com
Link: https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/keyword/12453-epirusSource snippet
ArticlesEpirus announced that it has delivered the final two of four total IFPC-HPM systems to the U.S. Army and successfully completed b...
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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: 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...Jul 18, 2025 — The IFPC-HPM GEN II systems will build upon the four iFPC-HPM sys...
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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: 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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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1E1dt0ia-M
Additional References
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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: defenseadvancement.com
Title: Defense Advancement High-Power Microwave Systems Delivered to U.S. Army
Link: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/news/high-power-microwave-systems-delivered-to-us-army/Source snippet
Defense AdvancementHigh-Power Microwave Systems Delivered to U.S. ArmyMay 22, 2024 — Epirus has provided the final two of four Indirect F...
Published: May 22, 2024
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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: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/themilitarychannelusa/posts/read-the-american-defense-technology-company-epirus-released-footage-confirming-/122182740638902462/Source snippet
mpleted initial government acceptance testing of its high...Read more...
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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
High-power microwaves are considered particularly advantageous for defeating drone...Read more...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: The US Army’s new answer to drone swarms: LEONIDAS
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSETxYGrxVwSource snippet
This MICROWAVE Weapon Could END Russia’s War...
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Source: youtube.com
Title: Drone Swarms Are Here. This Technology Could Stop Them
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unraT22a4zYSource snippet
High Power Microwave Weapons...
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