- Epirus and Digital Force Technologies partnered to integrate the Leonidas high-power microwave weapon with the Seraphim command-and-control platform into a unified counter-UAS kill chain.
- The combined system links autonomous detection and tracking with non-kinetic microwave defeat capabilities designed to counter drone swarms and protect critical infrastructure.
Epirus and Digital Force Technologies (DFT) have partnered to deliver a fully integrated counter-unmanned aerial system (counter-UAS) capability that combines advanced detection, tracking, and non-kinetic drone defeat technologies, the companies announced.
The agreement integrates DFT’s Seraphim command-and-control software with Epirus’ Leonidas high-power microwave platform to create a unified detect-to-defeat kill chain for critical point defense missions.
Under the agreement, Epirus will lead systems integration efforts, combining Seraphim’s multi-modal sensor fusion and command-and-control environment with the Leonidas high-power microwave (HPM) weapon system. The combined system is designed to handle detection, tracking, identification, localization, and engagement within a single operational framework.
According to the companies, the Leonidas platform provides a non-kinetic counter-UAS solution that uses electromagnetic interference rather than missiles or projectiles to disable drones. The system emits controlled bursts of high-power microwave energy that disrupt onboard electronics, neutralizing unmanned aerial systems while limiting physical damage and reducing collateral effects.
As noted by Epirus, Leonidas is designed to defeat swarming, AI-controlled, and fiber-optic-guided drones that can evade legacy electronic warfare techniques. The platform uses software-defined safe zones that allow operators to define protected areas and tailor engagement parameters for precision defense of sensitive locations.
The company said the system demonstrated its capabilities during a 2025 live-fire event, where Leonidas defeated a swarm of 49 drones simultaneously using a targeted electromagnetic burst. The demonstration highlighted the system’s ability to engage multiple threats at once, a requirement increasingly emphasized by military planners confronting low-cost drone saturation attacks.
DFT’s Seraphim software platform forms the sensing and decision-making layer of the integrated system. According to the company, Seraphim provides autonomous tracking and identification of unmanned threats in complex operational environments and operates on a modular architecture that remains sensor- and effector-agnostic.
The platform combines sensing inputs, decision support, and effects coordination through a unified operational interface. By fusing data in real time and autonomously prioritizing threats, Seraphim enables operators to move rapidly from detection to response, reducing operator workload while maintaining human oversight.
“Leonidas was designed to maximize interoperability with partner technologies,” said Andy Lowery, Epirus CEO. “This collaboration marries our systems integration and swarm defeat expertise with DFT’s edge processing and automation knowhow to deliver exactly what our customers are asking for: a flexible, adaptable and fully integrated counter-UAS kill chain for critical point defense missions.”
Justin MacLaurin, CEO of Digital Force Technologies, said the integration extends automated decision-making across the entire defensive chain.
“Integrating Seraphim with Epirus’ Leonidas high-power microwave platform extends AI-enabled decision making through the defeat layer of the counter-UAS kill chain, delivering a turnkey detect to-defeat capability,” MacLaurin said. “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to scalable, interoperable systems that give operators faster, more effective solutions to defeat evolving drone threats.”
The companies said they plan to participate jointly in United States government demonstration activities and expect to present the fully integrated counter-UAS solution later this year. No deployment locations or procurement decisions were disclosed.
High-power microwave weapons represent a different approach to air defense compared with kinetic interceptors. Instead of destroying targets through impact or explosive force, HPM systems generate electromagnetic energy that disrupts circuits and communications inside drones. This allows a single engagement to affect multiple targets simultaneously, making the technology suited for defending fixed sites such as bases, airfields, or critical infrastructure against large drone groups.