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Epirus conducted a live-fire demonstration of its Leonidas VehicleKit, a high-power microwave system, on December 2025, successfully disabling a fiber-optic controlled unmanned aerial system (UAS) at a U.S. government testing site. This marks the first documented defeat of such a drone using weaponized electromagnetic interference.

The Leonidas platform used a software-defined electromagnetic pulse to neutralize the drone's electronics without kinetic effects or radio-frequency jamming. The test addressed operational gaps against fiber-optic drones, which have become a significant threat in environments like Ukraine, where they are immune to traditional electronic warfare methods.

The Leonidas system employs non-ionizing radiation and a phased-array antenna for precise energy targeting, allowing for controlled outcomes to minimize collateral damage. This demonstration is part of ongoing U.S. government efforts to develop counter-UAS technologies against evolving threats.