Epirus
Epirus builds solid-state high-power microwave directed-energy systems — chiefly the Leonidas family — to defeat drone swarms and electronics at range.
Background
Epirus was founded in 2018 in Torrance, California by Joe Lonsdale alongside cofounders Bo Marr, Max Mednik, Nathan Mintz, Grant Verig, and John Ten. Andy Lowery became CEO in December 2023.
The company was built from the outset around solid-state high-power microwave (HPM) technology as an alternative to kinetic and laser-based counter-drone solutions.
Its flagship product, Leonidas, is a ground-based HPM 'microwave cannon' capable of disabling drone swarms and electronics across a wide area. Epirus also produces the Leonidas Pod, a smaller, mountable variant designed for vehicle or expeditionary integration.
A key hardware integration involves mounting Leonidas on General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker armored vehicles, extending HPM capability to mobile ground forces.
Epirus sells primarily to U.S. military services through direct defense contracts, with General Dynamics Land Systems serving as both a platform integration partner and an investor.
The company has also pursued DARPA and Army Applications Laboratory programs, indicating a research-to-procurement pipeline strategy.