The event marks the largest drone swarm challenge faced by Leonidas to date. It is not clear whether the UAVs approached as one formation or in separate groups from multiple directions.
Leonidas is being developed for several applications, including fixed-site, trailer-mounted, mobile and UAV-mounted versions. The system uses directed energy in the form of high-power microwaves to disable or damage onboard electronics, an approach that differs from more established jamming and laser-based counter-UAS methods.
High-power electromagnetic weapons such as Leonidas are attracting attention because of their potential to neutralise multiple drones simultaneously. Unlike jamming, they can affect drones operating autonomously or connected via fibre-optic links, while also avoiding the high firing costs associated with kinetic systems.
The technology is not without limitations, with range cited as a current drawback compared to laser weapons. However, proponents point to manageable power requirements, resilience against common countermeasures and effectiveness against swarms as reasons for investment in the capability.
Source: Axios.
