Epirus Modern Defense Systems
Founded 2018 Β· 259 employees on LinkedIn Β· 10 known investors
Epirus develops high-power microwave systems and electronic warfare technology for defense applications, including counter-unmanned aircraft systems for the U.S. military. The company serves government defense agencies and offers contracting vehicles and prototype solutions for advanced defense capabilities.
Also known as Epirus Β· Epirus Inc.
Investors Β· 10
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Epirus develops solid-state, long-pulse high-power microwave (HPM) systems combined with software and advanced electronics for defense and industrial applications. Its flagship product line is Leonidas, described by the company as a high-power microwave counter-unmanned aircraft system (cUAS) intended to defeat drones and drone swarms. The product family includes fixed and semi-fixed systems for layered short-range air defense, mobile configurations mounted on vehicles or unmanned surface vessels for maneuver short-range defense and vessel stoppage, long-range HPM air defense for high-value asset protection, and the Epirus Pod, a compact, embeddable or hand-carried HPM unit for uses such as de-mining and special operations.
Beyond directed-energy effectors, Epirus markets an air domain awareness capability that continuously monitors, tracks and identifies uncrewed aircraft incursions over wide areas and recommends mitigation actions, using large-scale data processing and machine learning. A third business area, advanced electronics, packages hardware, software and AI for high-power performance requirements in demanding industrial settings. Company positioning centers on countering adversaries' asymmetric tactics with systems it characterizes as faster and more affordable than incumbent approaches.
Business model
Epirus sells and develops high-power microwave systems, prototypes, test solutions and related electronics primarily under U.S. government contracts and research awards, and works through teaming arrangements and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity vehicles with larger primes and integrators.
Traction
Publicly announced awards include a $43.5 million U.S. Army contract for IFPC-HPM Generation II systems (July 2025), a $17 million U.S. Army contract (October 2024), an $11 million U.S. Marine Corps HAVOC contract (August 2026), and an $8 million-plus Office of Naval Research grant with the University of Oklahoma. Epirus completed delivery of four IFPC-HPM systems to the U.S. Army with new equipment training and engineering developmental testing in 2024, delivered an ExDECS HPM prototype to the U.S. Navy in 2025, and reported that Leonidas defeated 49 of 49 drones in a live-fire swarm demonstration in September 2025 and defeated a fiber-optic controlled UAS in a January 2026 demonstration.
Latest developments
In 2026 Epirus announced an $11 million U.S. Marine Corps HAVOC contract, selection of its high-power RF test solution for FISTA's new anechoic chambers, CMMC Level 2 certification, the appointments of Mark Cuyler as Chief Operating Officer and Mark Horton as Chief People Officer, an autonomous HPM counter-UAS system unveiled with General Dynamics Land Systems and Kodiak AI, a partnership with Digital Force Technologies on a non-kinetic counter-UAS kill chain, and a counter-UAS partnership with DSTA.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Epirus positions Leonidas as a leading high-power microwave counter-drone-swarm solution and works with established defense primes and integrators, having supplied HPM prototypes and production systems to multiple U.S. services.
Technology
Solid-state, long-pulse, software-defined high-power microwave systems that can be scaled and integrated with third-party sensors and weapons platforms, complemented by advanced electronics and machine-learning-based air domain awareness software.
Go-to-market
Direct pursuit of government contracts and research grants alongside partnerships and teaming agreements with defense and technology companies including General Dynamics Land Systems, Peraton, L3Harris, Digital Force Technologies, Kodiak AI and Palantir, plus live-fire demonstrations and prototype deliveries to service customers.
U.S. military services and defense agencies (including the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Office of Naval Research), allied government defense organizations such as Singapore's DSTA, defense primes and integrators, and commercial industrial users of advanced electronics.
Geography
U.S. operations including an office and an Immersive Innovation Center within Lawton Fort Sill's Innovation Accelerator and Counter-UAS Hub in Oklahoma; international engagement includes a partnership with Singapore's DSTA.
History
Recent milestones include the appointment of Andy Lowery as Chief Executive Officer in December 2023, delivery of the first IFPC-HPM counter-swarm system to the U.S. Army in November 2023, the appointments of Dr. Matt Markel as Chief Technology Officer and Reed Werner as Chief Financial Officer in 2025, the addition of former Peraton CEO Stu Shea to the board in November 2025, a $250 million Series D closed in March 2025, and expansion of leadership with a COO and Chief People Officer in June 2026.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Competitors Β· 1
by search overlapCompanies competing with Epirus Modern Defense Systems for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline Β· 29
launches, deals, and filings$11M source β
Epirus reported that Leonidas defeated 100% of the 49 drones flown at a live-fire demonstration.
$43.5M source β
Epirus announced the close of a $250 million Series D to hyperscale Leonidas production capability for critical asset protection.
$250M source β
$17M source β
Delivery completed along with new equipment training and engineering developmental testing.
$8M source β
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 1
primary sources listed
- Epirus Modern Defense Systemsepirusinc.com Β· web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Epirus Modern Defense Systems do?
- Epirus builds solid-state, long-pulse high-power microwave systems, led by Leonidas, for counter-drone and electronic warfare missions.
- Who are Epirus Modern Defense Systems's investors?
- Epirus Modern Defense Systems's investors include 8VC, Broom Ventures, Center15 Capital, Chapter One, Evolution VC Partners, Kensington Capital Partners Limited, Prime Movers Lab, Red Cell Incubation and 2 more.