Epirus Receives $43.5 Million Contract from U.S. Army for IFPC-HPM Generation II Systems

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Epirus announced a $43,551,060 contract from the U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The base contract includes delivery of two Integrated Fires Protection Capability High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) Generation II (GEN II) systems, along with associated test events, support equipment and spares with options for additional tests, components and support.

The IFPC-HPM GEN II systems will build upon the four IFPC-HPM systems Epirus delivered to U.S. Army in May 20241 and leverage the company's solid-state, energy-based high-power microwave (HPM) technology platform for counter-electronics and critical asset protection.

The enhanced systems will incorporate Soldier feedback from IFPC-HPM Generation I (GEN I) testing, including engineering developmental testing, joint integrated air and missile defense livefire exercises and operational assessments with combatant commands.

"Our first IFPC-HPM prototypes were put through the wringer and emerged from sophisticated testing with favorable outcomes. The second generation of our energy-based HPM platform and the next increment of IFPC-HPM will be even more powerful, more mission capable and more impressive all around," said Andy Lowery, Epirus CEO. "Drones are everywhere. We've seen drone incursions over U.S. bases, incursions over our southern border and swarm attacks are defining overseas conflicts. Epirus is prepared to answer the Army's call and rapidly produce at scale to help solve the asymmetric drone threat with our HPM technology."

The IFPC-HPM GEN II systems are expected to more than double the maximum effective range of GEN I systems, increase power by a projected 30 percent and feature the inclusion of high-density batteries for prolonged operating times and decreased external power requirements, extra-long pulse widths for maximizing energy output for target defeat, high-duty burst mode for faster multitarget engagement, advanced waveform and polarization techniques for increased lethality against a broader set of targets of interest and Soldier usability enhancements.

These enhancements will build upon the demonstrated effectiveness, usability and safety of the first four IFPC-HPM systems and enable the U.S. Army RCCTO to conduct additional system performance validation through critical parametric assessments, inform potential future Program of Record requirements and support the evolution of a broader directed energy portfolio in line with the Army Transformation Initiative.