Three US companies joined hands to develop an autonomously driven vehicle with a microwave weapon onboard to counter drone swarms.
Leonidas Autonomous Ground Vehicle , a self-driving counter-drone system equipped with a high-power microwave weapon , was recently unveiled at the AUSA Global Force Symposium 2026 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Three US-based companies, Epirus, General Dynamics Land Systems, and Kodiak AI, were involved in the development of this vehicle, which can neutralize drone swarms in seconds. In the past month, the U.S. has come face-to-face with the cost imbalances of using traditional missile-based weapon systems to counter drone swarms. While adversaries flew cheaply assembled drones in large numbers every day, the US and its allies have been spending millions to take them down. While drones can be quickly replaced, restocking missiles for the air defense system is much more complex and is constrained by logistics. For years, defense experts have suggested the deployment of low-cost countermeasures for drone warfare, and with Leonidas AGV, the US has gone a step forward with an autonomous system that can take down drones effectively. What is Leonidas AGV? The Leonidas AGV is a modified vehicle built on the medium-truck chassis of a Ford F-600 and integrated with sensors, power distribution, and other elements needed to support a combined system of a microwave weapon and autonomous driving. The vehicle is designed to operate without a driver or to be remotely controlled, allowing it to be repositioned within an area, shift between interception points, or patrol a sensitive area without exposing personnel to enemy fire. The Epirus Leonidas is a high-power microwave weapon that generates pulsed electromagnetic energy that can disrupt the electronics of a drone, causing failure of its navigation, propulsion, or communication systems. Since this effect is achieved through localized heating and induced electrical surges, the device’s beam area can be used to counter swarm attacks where drones fly in close proximity. Unlike laser-based systems, which can engage only one target at a time, the microwave-based approach can engage multiple targets simultaneously as long as there is sufficient onboard power and thermal management for sustained, repeat pulses. How was it developed? The Leonidas AGV was developed as a joint effort between three U.S. companies, with General Dynamics Land Systems acting as the lead integrator. The Ford F-600 was used to avoid designing a specific military vehicle, enabling faster iteration and scale-up going forward.The Leonidas microwave weapon system is already modular and can be adapted to different vehicles. Since it does not use physical interceptors, it is not limited by ammunition stockpiles or reload cycles, allowing it to be deployed constantly. The system serves as a close-in defense layer within the larger counter-drone infrastructure and can help address coverage gaps. Kodiak’s AI Driver system uses a range of sensors, cameras, and other perception systems to enable self-driving across environments from highways to off-road terrain. Using real-time data to plan routes and avoid obstacles, the system enables the AGV to reposition in response to changing threat patterns. When required, humans can step in and take control of the vehicle. The Leonidas AGV unveiled during the AUSA Global Force Symposium is a full-scale prototype but has not been validated under operational conditions or demonstrated engagement capability when in autonomous motion. Yet, it demonstrates the ability to counter drones with a low-cost option in the future.
Autonomous Driving Counter Drone Operations Defense &Amp Military Drone Swarms General Dynamics Inventions And Machines Kodiak AI Leonidas Microwave Weapon
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