AFA 2025: CUAS solutions demonstrate modularity and portability focus
Epirus’s Leonidas CUAS achieved a 100% success rate in testing against 61 drones. (Credit: Epirus)
Aerovironment, Epirus and SNC displayed their counter-uncrewed aerial systems, with both non-kinetic and kinetic options for military services.
At the recent Air, Space & Cyber defence expo organised by the Air Force Association (AFA), the displayed counter-uncrewed aerial systems (CUASs) highlighted modularity and portability as key objectives for new solutions.
Epirus presented Leonidas, its flagship long-pulse, high-power microwave (HPM) CUAS, which the company defines as “a revolutionary approach to directed energy”. The system is modular and scalable, the company told Shephard, as the line-replaceable amplifier module (LRAM) can be adapted to fit different vehicles for transportation, or used as a stationary service.
Shane Karp, vice-president for marketing and communications at Epirus, explained that Leonidas is in its second generation, which has
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal]()
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
![India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist]()
India’s rotary-wing capability gap grows as IMRH programme delays persist
With IMRH and DBMRH potentially years from service, India faces a widening rotary-wing capability gap that could drive further foreign purchases even as HAL and Safran build the foundations of an indigenous successor.
-
![AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX]()
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.
