US Army Orders New Microwave Drone-Defense Systems for $43.5M
The U.S. Army has awarded a $43.55 million contract to defense tech firm Epirus for the delivery of next-generation microwave weapons designed to counter drone swarms.
According to the company, the contract, signed on July 17, 2025, covers the supply of two IFPC-HPM Generation II systems, along with associated equipment, spare parts, and testing services.
The weapon system, based on Epirus’s Leonidas architecture, uses high-power microwaves to disable drones and is intended to protect critical infrastructure from aerial threats.
The second-generation model reportedly offers a range of up to 2 kilometers — more than double that of the first version — and a 30% increase in power output.
It also features built-in batteries that allow for up to 30 minutes of autonomous operation without an external power source.
Epirus previously delivered four first-generation systems to the Army in May 2024. Those units underwent testing during joint air defense exercises and in operational settings.
The company expects to deliver the first of the new systems by the end of July, the second in August, and the third in September.
“Drones are everywhere. We’ve seen drone incursions over U.S. bases, incursions over our southern border, and swarm attacks are defining overseas conflicts. Epirus is prepared to answer the Army’s call and rapidly produce at scale to help solve the asymmetric drone threat with our HPM technology,” Andy Lowery, Epirus CEO, stated.
A similar system is currently undergoing trials in the UK. In April, British forces used a microwave weapon known as RF DEW to detect and destroy two drone swarms in a single engagement. More than 100 drones have reportedly been neutralized throughout that test program.
