Epirus has been awarded a $43.55-million contract by the US Army to supply a next-generation directed-energy weapon aimed at neutralizing drone swarms and other aerial threats.
This contract is part of the development and validation phase and includes the delivery of two Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) Generation II systems. It also covers associated testing, support tools, and spare parts, with the option for additional testing and system components.
The production timeline is aggressive: the first Gen II system is expected to be delivered by the end of July, the second by late August, and a third unit is planned for completion by September, according to The War Zone.
Subsequent trials and evaluations will be conducted in October at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. If the systems perform successfully, the Army will move forward with broader procurement.
The Gen II version of the Epirus Leonidas IFPC-HPM system represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor.
It emits powerful long-pulse microwave beams that can simultaneously disable the electronic components of multiple drones.
Designed with a software-defined, modular structure, the platform is both cost-efficient and easily upgradable to adapt to evolving threats.
Epirus previously delivered four units of the original IFPC-HPM system in May 2024. The enhanced Gen II system, developed with direct input from soldiers, is expected to more than double the operational range and boost power output by around 30%, marking a major leap in the US Army’s counter-drone capabilities.
