Electromagnetic Gun on a Pickup Truck: Project Epirus / GDLS Leonidas AGV

Leonidas AGV complex in combat position

Since the end of the last decade, the Leonidas microwave counter-drone system has been under development in the United States. Several versions of this system have been presented to date, with a new one recently unveiled. The new Leonidas AGV is built on an autonomous ground platform with a wheeled chassis, which achieves high mobility and broad operational capabilities.

At the new base

The AUSA Global Force Symposium 2026, dedicated to the development of ground forces, their equipment, and weapons, was recently held in Huntsville. A key part of the event was an exhibition where various companies showcased their developments and shared their views on the future of the Army and its equipment.

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and Epirus, Inc. once again participated in the exhibition. They once again demonstrated various versions of the Leonidas "microwave cannon" to specialists. This time, the already known modifications were joined by a new one, recently developed with the help of Kodiak AI.

The Leonidas AGV (Autonomous Ground Vehicle) project involves installing specialized electronic equipment on a fully-fledged self-propelled chassis. The vehicle is refitted with a fully autonomous control system. This platform and associated hardware were developed by Kodiak AI.

View from a different angle

The new design was based on the experience of testing and operating other versions of Leonid systems. Despite all their advantages, they faced the challenge of limited mobility in certain situations. Moving the equipment to a wheeled chassis eliminated a number of limitations. Furthermore, it was decided to eliminate the need for a driver and operator onboard the system to gain additional advantages.

The result is an autonomous counter-UAV system capable of autonomously navigating a predetermined route, changing position, deploying, and conducting combat operations. The system's operator is located at a remote station, protected from direct risks, and can control multiple Leonidas AGV systems or other modifications.

Like previous developments, the new Leonidas AGV is proposed for use in layered air defense. This system is designed to provide cover for troops, fixed installations, or designated areas from drones or high-precision weapons the adversary.

Available chassis

It's worth noting that Epirus was founded in 2018 and almost immediately began developing a microwave system called Leonidas. The first results of this work were presented in 2020. By this time, the design had been completed, a pilot system had been built, and it was undergoing testing. Leonidas subsequently underwent numerous additional tests, including with the participation of the US Army.

Autonomous pickup trucks with "electromagnetic guns" in the stowed position

The first version of the system was mounted on a two-axle trailer. This configuration allowed for testing at the proving ground and demonstrating the general capabilities of the new equipment. The possibility of its practical use in real systems was also not ruled out. Defense.

During the same period, Epirus entered into a cooperation agreement with GDLS. This soon led to the development of an experimental system on the chassis of a Stryker wheeled armored personnel carrier. This platform made the Leonidas system self-propelled and also protected against bullets and shrapnel.

In 2022, the container modification of Leonidas Pod was first presented, designed for aviationContainers with specialized equipment can be used by various aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. In 2024, it was reported that testing of a naval version of the Leonidas H system would begin.₂O. The composition of this complex was redesigned taking into account the specifics of surface platforms.

In October 2025, another version of the system, the Leonidas AR (Autonomous Robotic), was unveiled. It was built on the TRX (Tracked Robot X ton) tracked platform from GDLS. According to promotional materials, this system, while retaining all its core functions, boasts high cross-country capability and is capable of autonomous operation without direct operator intervention.

A pickup truck with a microwave gun

The Leonidas AGV is the latest member of this family of microwave systems. As with several previous projects, this involves installing specialized equipment on a new chassis. This time, an unusual platform with unique capabilities was chosen.

The new "autonomous ground vehicle" was built on the basis of a production Ford F-600 pickup truck, which offers a favorable balance of load capacity and driving performance. Instead of the standard bed, the pickup was equipped with a custom platform with special equipment. Some new instruments are also planned.

Kodiak AI has developed a complete autonomous driving system for the pickup truck. It includes a variety of sensors, video cameras, an onboard computer with specialized software, and actuators. Communications are also included for exchanging data with the operator.

The AGV version is capable of autonomously navigating along a preset route or to input coordinates. Machine vision systems help the computer find the optimal path, avoid obstacles, and so on. Furthermore, the autonomous control system controls the operation of the "electromagnetic gun."

Experimental complex on a semi-trailer

A new platform is mounted on the rear of the vehicle, housing a slewing bearing and an electromagnetic gun. It also contains storage compartments for additional equipment. A small platform extends upward, above the roof of the vehicle's cabin. It houses antennas for various purposes.

The Leonid's main component is an active phased array antenna housed in a oscillating rectangular housing. It searches for aerial targets using radar or characteristic signals. A powerful microwave pulse is then sent in the target's direction.

Depending on the signal strength, the range to the target, and its characteristics, electronics are suppressed or destroyed. Leonidas series systems can adjust the degree of impact on a target, up to and including its complete incapacitation. Furthermore, the presence of an active phased array (AESA) allows for simultaneous or minimally sequential attack on multiple targets.

In terms of operational and combat characteristics, the Leonidas AGV is fundamentally no different from other systems in its family. The main innovation of this project is the vehicle chassis with an autonomous control system. This platform, according to the developers, should simplify and reduce the cost of serial production and operation of the systems. Furthermore, the pickup truck has sufficiently high performance for rapid deployment.

Leonidas AR Autonomous Complex

Choice for customers

In early 2023, Epirus and GDLS received the first contract from the Pentagon for the Leonidas series. The agency wanted several systems for its own testing and evaluation. In early 2024, the ordered "electromagnetic guns" entered trial operation.

The Pentagon has not yet made a final decision or placed an order for full-scale serial production of Leonids. However, the developers are counting on this development and are even prepared to stimulate interest from potential customers. It is with this goal in mind that new modifications of the system are being developed on various platforms.

To date, the land-based Leonidas system has been mounted on a towed trailer, a pickup truck, an armored personnel carrier, and an armored robotic platform. Future buyers can choose the system modification(s) that best suit their needs and the specifics of their intended use.

However, the actual prospects for the entire Leonidas family are still uncertain. The Pentagon continues military testing and pilot operations of this system, but is in no rush to award a full-scale production contract. Other countries have also shown little interest in the Epirus and GDLS developments. However, if buyers emerge, the developers will be able to offer them several variants of the system.

Comments

[KCA]

The generator is nowhere to be seen, the power draw from the engine is questionable, there is no compartment for supercapacitors. Do they use batteries in Chinese microwaves?

[traveler 63]

If there's no interest from buyers, the idea seems somewhat dubious! And transmitting such a quantity of energy over a distance defies Newton's laws!

[Cube123]

Quote: KCA

The generator is nowhere to be seen.

You were simply misled by the technically incorrect title of the article. This isn't about accelerating a projectile with an electromagnetic field. It's about suppressing the target's electronics with an electromagnetic pulse. In this case, the electromagnetic pulse is generated by an active phased array antenna (APAA), which has thousands (and possibly tens of thousands) of emitting elements. Each emits only a few watts, and their energies are summed up on the target. This isn't about mechanical impact. Any drone has a control channel, and therefore antennas and a bunch of wires that collect energy, which leads to the failure of the electronics connected to them. This requires far less energy than mechanical destruction of the drone's structure. The beam's positioning in space is achieved by changing the phase shifts between the elements.
About twenty years ago, the Americans were developing similar designs to disperse demonstrations. They used the microwave effect, which caused skin burns. A non-lethal weapon.

[KCA]

So, I'm writing, where's the power source? Where are the supercapacitors that provide the energy for the pulse, or are they in the trailer and just missed the shot? There's the possibility of an explosive EMP, but then those are disposable machines, right?

[KCA]

Here's an article about Chinese lasers. Pay attention to the size of the machines. The laser unit itself is small, but the huge one is needed for the generator and the battery of supercapacitors.

[Cube123]

Quote: KCA

There is an option of an explosive EMP, but then these are disposable machines, then?

There's no need for all that here. Consider this simply a transmitting module from an aircraft radar. Only a greatly simplified one, as the accuracy requirements are lower. In terms of energy characteristics, these systems are similar. Consequently, their weight and size characteristics are also similar.

[KCA]

Do you really think you can take down even a Mavic with a radar, especially a pocket one? I was a communications officer for two years. If that were possible, our planes wouldn't be flying, dammit. The dipoles on the R-161s would glow like burner bulbs. Planes would fall like winter crops from Maikop to Nalchik, and Vladikavkaz is right there, too. A single radar could take them all out. Considering that the R-161s were part of the early warning system, the entire North Caucasus Military District would be completely screwed. When transmitting launch codes, the R-161 and the ZAS flywheel are designed specifically for transmitting coordinates, commands, and ICBM launch targets. I don't know the exact range, but I did talk to Vladivostok myself. I'm from a different system, just communications. But I did know, the R-161's diesel trailer weighed 6 tons.

[dragon772]

An active phased array (AESA) like a microwave? Will it burn through the fuselage like an airplane's?

[plastic]

Let's say we also made a mobile system for covering columns. But... a primary power source is still needed. Or a device using supercapacitors or batteries. But with a limited set of pulses. Let's say there's a truck charging nearby. I don't know about the AFE. Ours use different principles. According to their article, the system combines both a destructive emitter and a detection emitter? I haven't heard of any working jamming systems for AFEs until now. Even if you were to deposit a pulse from several thousand emitters at a given point, it seems insufficient to create a destructive pulse. Our devices generated pulses differently, and the multiplication isn't thousands of times greater. Much more. Unfortunately, reporters usually don't know the ropes and just spew out publicly available garbage.