The US Army invests $43 million in Leonidas microwave weapons to combat drones

 Leonidas HPM

The US army is betting on microwave weapons — and investing $43 million in them. Epirus has received a contract from the U.S. Army's Office of Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies (RCCTO) to supply two new second-generation Leonidas HPM systems that will be used to combat next-generation drones, especially so-called kamikaze drones and swarms of UAVs.

The Leonidas HPM (High-Power Microwave) system is a kind of super—powerful microwave that can destroy dozens of drones simultaneously by simply "burning out" their electronics with a powerful electromagnetic pulse. This is especially important now, when massive attacks using unmanned kamikaze aircraft are increasingly being used.

The head of Epirus said that the latest tests of the Gen II system were successful, and now there is a chance that the program will be officially launched and transferred from the experimental stage to combat readiness.

What is included in the contract?  

- Delivery of two new Leonidas systems of the second generation  

- Auxiliary equipment and spare parts  

- The possibility of further testing and modernization  

The US Army wants to test how effectively Leonidas copes with modern threats, especially those swarms of drones that can attack dozens of targets simultaneously. If everything goes well, such complexes may become part of a standard air defense system in the future.

Now, more and more countries and non—state groups are using cheap and effective drones for attacks, from single strikes to massive attacks. Traditional air defense systems do not always cope with this economically — in other words, it is unprofitable to shoot down a drone for $ 1,000 with a missile for $ 1 million.  

Leonidas is just the solution to this problem: one salvo — and immediately a dozen drones "die" from an overload of electronics. This is both cheaper and more effective, especially in the face of massive attacks.

The United States continues to actively invest in promising anti—drone technologies, and the Leonidas microwave weapon from Epirus is one of the most interesting candidates for the role of a new standard in air defense. If the tests show good results, then such systems may appear at the forefront in the coming years.

The Royal Canadian Navy has tested unmanned kamikaze boats inspired by the experience of Ukraine

In early July, multinational naval exercises ended off the west coast of Vancouver Island, during which the Royal Canadian Navy for the first time tested an experimental concept for the use of unmanned boats packed with explosives. As part of the tests, one drone boat crashed into another unmanned object and was blown up, demonstrating the potential of the "kamikaze sea drone" tactics actively used in the war in Ukraine.  

According to representatives of the Canadian Navy, this experiment was part of a rethink of modern maritime threats and the adaptation of lessons from the Ukrainian conflict to Canada's defense strategy. It is noted that the new tactics can be used to protect the country's long maritime borders, as well as to enhance operational flexibility in the Arctic and the Pacific region.  

German HX-2 drones are being tested in Europe and are ready for mass production

HX-2

The German company Helsing is actively promoting its HX-2 attack drones, which are currently being tested by several European armies from Germany to the UK. This was stated by the vice president of the company Simon Brunies. However, not all countries are in a hurry to buy these drones: for example, France is likely to abandon purchases, but Germany may make a decision by the end of 2025.

What is the HX-2?

This is not just a drone, but a real "smart" kamikaze with elements of artificial intelligence, capable of finding targets on its own, even if there is powerful electronic suppression around. It flies fast — up to 220 km/ h, can fly as far as 100 km, weighs about 12 kg, and its combat load allows it to hit both equipment and enemy fortifications.

Currently, the plant in southern Germany produces about 450 HX-2 drones per month, but the company wants to increase this number to 1,000 units per month. And if they launch a second plant, then up to 2,500 units per month. However, this requires training new specialists, and it takes time.

Interest in such drones is growing throughout Europe, as armies increasingly realize that modern warfare is impossible without autonomous systems. Especially after such devices began to show themselves on the battlefield.

Who is already using the HX-2?

- Germany is considering the possibility of purchasing these drones — this could be an important step in modernizing its army.

- Other European countries are still testing the HX-2 to see if it suits them in terms of performance and price.

- Ukraine has already received thousands of such drones, and they are actively used on the front line. According to the Ukrainian military, some of them have already been in real battles.

The artificial intelligence in the drone gives it the ability to deceive air defense systems, act independently and even work in bundles — the so-called "swarms". This makes them much more effective than conventional drones and changes the approach to warfare in general. In other words, the future is already here — and it's flying at 220 km/h straight at the target.

If interest in such technologies continues, it can be expected that in a couple of years, HX-2 type drones will become a standard element of the arsenal of any modern army.

Blueberry kamikaze drones used for the first time on AFU positions in Kharkiv

For the first time, Russian troops used the new Blueberry series drones in attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kharkov. This is reported by relevant sources.

Drones are made in two versions:

The Blueberry-1 is a lightweight drone with a range of up to 80 km, a cruising speed of 75 km/h and a working height of up to 1.5 km. Designed to hit light targets.

The Blueberry-2 is a heavy version with a warhead of up to 3.5 kg, a range of up to 100 km and a target guidance function. The drone is less vulnerable to electronic warfare and can fly to a given area offline, requiring operator intervention only at the final stage of the attack.

According to sources, the Blueberry-2 was specially designed to destroy enemy dugouts, shelters and armored vehicles.

Israeli Spike missiles and Mossad drones destroyed Iran's air defenses from the inside

During the initial phase of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Israeli intelligence agencies used Spike anti-tank missile systems and drones deployed directly on Iranian territory. These systems were remotely controlled and played a key role in neutralizing Iran's air defense systems.

Spike NLOS missiles, equipped with a two-way electron-optical image transmission system, allowed operators to control the destruction of targets out of line of sight at a distance of up to 25 kilometers. The use of such missiles along with kamikaze drones provided the Israeli forces with the opportunity to effectively attack and weaken Iran's air defenses from the inside, which greatly facilitated subsequent airstrikes.

In addition, the Mossad has established several bases in Iran for the production and launch of drones that were activated during artillery fire. These actions allowed Israel to gain a tactical advantage by weakening the enemy's defenses and creating the conditions for successful strikes against Iran's key military and nuclear facilities.

Russian fighters in the Sumy area use kamikaze drones with thermobaric ammunition

 

Thermobars for kamikaze drones

In the Sumy area, Russian military personnel are introducing new tactics for the use of compact kamikaze drones equipped with thermobaric ammunition. These unmanned aerial vehicles are capable of delivering devastating strikes against enemy targets, including residential buildings and fortified structures.

Thermobaric ammunition is characterized by high power and efficiency due to the use of oxygen from the environment, which enhances the blast wave and increases the damaging effect. Due to the compact size of kamikaze drones, they can penetrate into hard-to-reach places and deliver precision strikes at minimal cost.

According to reports, such a drone is capable of completely destroying an apartment building, which indicates a serious increase in the firing capabilities of Russian forces in this area. The use of such technologies is changing the nature of combat operations, increasing the mobility and effectiveness of strikes.

China is preparing to deploy the world's largest carrier of drones, the Jiu Tian

The Chinese defense industry has developed the world's largest drone carrier, the Jiu Tian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is being prepared for deployment as early as June 2025. This unique "mothership" is capable of transporting and launching up to 100 smaller drones, including kamikaze drones operating as part of a swarm.

The Jiu Tian weighs about 11 tons and can carry an additional load of 100 drones with a total weight of about 6.6 tons. At the same time, the flight range of this system reaches an impressive 4,350 miles (approximately 7,000 kilometers), which allows it to be used to perform a wide range of tasks over long distances.

This combination of payload and range makes the Jiu Tian a revolutionary platform for conducting autonomous combat operations using a swarm of drones. The ability to simultaneously launch a large number of UAVs significantly increases the effectiveness of reconnaissance, attacks and suppression of the enemy.

The development of Jiu Tian reflects China's desire for technological superiority in the field of unmanned systems and autonomous combat platforms, which strengthens its position on the world stage and changes the balance of power in modern conflicts.

It is expected that the deployment of this drone carrier will be an important milestone in the development of the Chinese armed forces and will open up new opportunities for conducting high-tech operations in the air.

Jiu Tian

China has developed a system to turn artillery shells into precision-guided planning bombs for drones

 China is converting 155 mm and 152mm artillery shells into precision-guided planning bombs ready for use by kamikaze drones.

According to photos posted on social media in May 2025, a Chinese defense company has developed an advanced modular system capable of converting standard 155 mm and 152mm artillery shells into precision-guided gliding bombs. The images show artillery shells equipped with sophisticated aerodynamic kits, including folding wings, tail stabilizers, and a nose guidance module. This innovation marks a significant leap in adapting to combat, allowing conventional artillery ammunition to be launched from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, or airplanes as long-range precision weapons.

An artillery shell converted into a gliding aerial bomb