Singapore and Epirus have signed an MoU to jointly assess high-power microwave counter-drone technology, marking a step forward in the city-state’s efforts to counter increasingly sophisticated unmanned aerial threats. The partnership includes Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and focuses on directed-energy systems designed to disable drone electronics through electromagnetic effects.
The collaboration targets next-generation threats such as fiber-optic guided drones and AI-controlled UAS, often referred to as “dark drones” due to their ability to operate without traditional radio-frequency links. These platforms are largely immune to conventional jamming and spoofing, prompting interest in non-kinetic counter-electronics solutions like high-power microwave weapons.
As part of the agreement, Epirus and DSTA will conduct technical exchanges, system evaluations, and live trials to measure performance across diverse operational environments. Testing will examine the ability of microwave systems to counter individual drones and coordinated swarm attacks, enhancing Singapore’s defensive posture across land, maritime, and urban domains.
The MoU builds on Epirus’ recent success with its Leonidas system, which in December 2025 reportedly disabled a fiber-optic first-person-view drone during a US government-backed test. Unlike kinetic interceptors, Leonidas uses directed, non-ionizing electromagnetic energy to induce electronic failure, offering a scalable approach to countering drone threats increasingly observed in modern conflicts such as Ukraine.
