The U.S. Army has signed a $43.55 million deal with Epirus to deliver advanced directed-energy weapons aimed at countering drone swarms and other aerial threats.
The contract, focused on the development and validation of the system, covers two Generation II Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) units, related testing, support gear, spare parts, and optional follow-up components and evaluations.
The War Zone reports that the first system will be delivered by the end of July, the second by August, and a third by September. Formal testing is scheduled for October at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. A positive assessment could pave the way for a broader acquisition effort.
Gen II System Features:
Part of the Epirus Leonidas family, the IFPC-HPM system deploys high-powered microwave pulses to disable the electronics of multiple airborne targets at once.
With a modular, software-defined framework, it is designed for adaptability across different mission requirements, easier upgrades, and reduced long-term costs.
Epirus previously delivered four Gen I systems to the Army in May 2024. Building on operational feedback, the Gen II variant is expected to offer over twice the effective range and 30% more power than its predecessor.
