Epirus and General Dynamics Land Systems are teaming up to upgrade Strykers with enhanced counter-drone technology. (Courtesy of Epirus)
WASHINGTON: General Dynamics Land Systems, a major ground vehicle manufacturer for the US Army, announced today that it had agreed to partnership with counter-drone startup Epirus Inc. to deliver counter unmanned aerial systems technology to the service.
The partnership will initially integrate Epirus’s Leonidas directed energy system and broader high-power microwave technology onto Stryker vehicles as part of upgrades to enhance its mobile Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) capabilities.
“General Dynamics Land Systems continues to evolve the Army’s largest and most reliable ground combat vehicle fleet with next-generation innovation and high-tech solutions,” said Danny Deep, President of General Dynamics Land Systems. “This partnership with Epirus benefits the Army’s Stryker mobile SHORAD formations by offering cutting-edge, counter-electronics and counter-swarm capabilities.”
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Army leadership considers to small enemy drones and drone swarms to be a top threat to soldiers. Just last week, troops in Syria were attacked by drones, according to the Pentagon. And last month, Col. Greg Soule, an Army colonel leading counter-drone development tests told reporters that small drones are “one of the biggest threats since the IED [improvised explosive device].”
According to the release, integrating the Epirus product will give Strykers a “fully mobile” counter-electronics and electronic attack capabilities to take down adversary drones. The release stated that the technology has an open architecture that allows it to integrate on ground-, maritime-, and air-based platforms.
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General Dynamics Land Systems is also developing other next generation ground platforms, including robotic combat vehicles, that could use the counter-drone technology in the future.
“With Leonidas integrated into GD’s combat vehicle fleet, we are unlocking new SHORAD and counter-electronics capabilities to equip our warfighters with combat effective systems that dismantle the threats of today and tomorrow,” said Epirus CEO Leigh Madden.
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