Epirus was the magical bow forged by the god Zeus. Sought after by mythological heroes, the bow had an unlimited supply of arrows that could fell mortals and immortals. In 2018, a group of engineers in Los Angeles were inspired by the legend of Epirus and chose it to represent their new company. Seeing how the drone industry was growing exponentially, the team at Epirus Inc. knew there would also be a need for anti drone technology.

As explained in the company bio, “Epirus is a high-growth technology company developing solid-state, software-defined directed energy systems that enable unprecedented counter-electronics effects and power efficiency in defense and commercial applications.” Like how the Epirus of mythology was always at the ready, Epirus Inc builds devices utilizing High-Power Microwave (HPM) technology that is always at the ready to take down unwarranted drones. The company has two main products, a proprietary SmartPower platform that provides unparalleled energy solutions for Leonidas.

Named in honor of the Greek Spartan king, popularized in the film 300, Leonidas and Leonidas POD are the stars of the Epirus platform. Using HPM, the devices can take down individual or swarms of drones instantly. Sent out in wave bursts, the HPMs will cause a drone to switch to an emergency default landing setting, or simply burn out and crash. Leonidas is a large, yet lightweight and portable device. It can be mounted on a flatbed or military vehicle. As explained on the Epirus website, “Leonidas is a counter-electronics system with the power and precision to neutralize a single system in tight, crowded spaces or disable multiple threats across a wide area…The only directed energy weapon of its power and size with a proven, publicly demonstrated ability to counter swarming drones and execute precision strikes at range.”

Leonidas POD is small enough to be mounted onto a drone. This puts it in a unique position to be used in environments where setting up a large anti drone device isn’t feasible. Epirus envisions Leonidas POD being ideal in crowded settings like concerts or sports events where drones have been banned. From a military point of view, Leonidas POD could be critical for troops in isolated areas or on the move. Though Epirus has yet to strike a deal with the US Army for Leonidas POD, they did announce in October of 2021 that General Dynamics Land Systems would begin to mount Leonides systems on their Stryker combat vehicles.

While many companies are racing to corner the market on anti drone technology, a release made on February 15, 2022, by Epirus may prove that they are in the lead. Just after launching Leonidas POD, Epirus secured a series C funding of $200million to bring the product to the next level. “In just three short years since we founded the company, the team at Epirus has disrupted the status quo with their revolutionary technology, bridging the gap between innovation and establishment,” said Joe Lonsdale, Epirus’ initial investor and one of the co-founders. “This new round of funding will enable the company to ascend even further – expanding the visionary team, forging new markets, and ultimately creating long-term economic and societal value.” While the company and product names may be inspired by legends of mythology, the anti drone platforms Epirus has presented are firmly rooted in reality.