American companies from the defense sector — Epirus and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) — have unveiled an autonomous robotic system called Leonidas AR, designed to neutralize swarms of enemy drones.
Leonidas AR combines the high-power microwave (HPM) weapon Leonidas, developed by Epirus, with a tracked, armored vehicle, the Tracked Robot 10-ton (TRX), produced by GDLS. The partnership was announced ahead of the official presentation at the annual meeting and exhibition of the United States Army Association (AUSA), reports Interesting Engineering.
According to the companies, the system can simultaneously disable multiple drones through powerful electromagnetic pulses: the burst of energy in the microwave band would instantly affect the circuits and electronic components of the unmanned aerial vehicles. The manufacturers claim that operators can precisely adjust the amplitude and frequency of the signal depending on the mission, which allows for the definition of “safe zones”, avoiding unwanted interference, and remote updating of the system parameters without withdrawing it from the battlefield.
The TRX platform is a hybrid-electric tracked vehicle of approximately 10 tons, equipped with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities. According to GDLS, TRX can travel over 480 km on a single charge and reach a maximum speed of about 45 miles/hour (≈72 km/h). The vehicle offers high mobility and 360-degree radar sensors; the manufacturer is also working on a wheeled version to expand mobility options according to operational requirements.
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