On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the Leonidas AGV (Automated Ground Vehicle) system was unveiled. It was created through an integration carried out by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), combining Epirus’s Leonidas high-powered microwave (HPM) pulse-generation system with a Ford F-600 truck equipped with Kodiak AI’s Driver autonomous software, to demonstrate new counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities.
Photos: Epirus
According to the press release, Leonidas AGV provides a mobile counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capability that can be operated without human intervention or remotely, extending the defensive line in both stationary and expeditionary missions.
Designed for the autonomous defense of critical points against unmanned aerial vehicles, Leonidas AGV can rapidly move to preplanned interception points or maneuver along a perimeter to protect critical assets from attacks by single drones, swarms, or fiber-optically controlled drones. Leonidas AGV vehicles are well suited for a wide range of multi-mission tasks, including the protection of bases, airfields, ports, critical infrastructure, and major public events, for example as part of the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) established by the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as for defending U.S. Air Force assets and military installations. The system’s autonomous and teleoperated modes allow users to scale coverage, dynamically reposition, and maintain continuous protection against drone threats.
Leonidas AGV offers the modularity and scalability of the Leonidas high-powered microwave platform, a proven counter-UAS solution that provides programmable generation of high-intensity directional microwave pulses. These pulses induce electrical surges (sudden increases in current) and heat buildup in electronic systems, resulting in their permanent damage and the neutralization of drones. Leonidas can safely neutralize both individual drones and saturated swarm attacks without the need for costly and limited interceptor missiles, creating a resilient, low-level, short-range defense layer for critical assets and infrastructure.
The industry-leading Kodiak Driver AI-based autonomous driving system, designed for dual-use applications, enables Leonidas AGV vehicles to operate autonomously in a variety of complex environments, from paved roads to unstructured off-road terrain and everything in between. The system’s modular architecture ensures reliable and safe movement in areas where human operation may be inefficient or dangerous. With advanced perception and autonomous navigation, Kodiak Driver allows Leonidas AGV vehicles to maneuver dynamically and maintain uninterrupted counter-UAS coverage in contested environments.
“Saturation drone attacks demand a fundamentally different approach to defense,” said Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus. “Leonidas AGV combines autonomous mobility with high-power microwave effects to deliver a counter-UAS capability that rapidly maneuvers to defeat drone swarms without more boots on the ground. Together with GDLS and Kodiak, we’re enabling a new layer of autonomous drone defense for critical assets and infrastructure.”
“We partner with other companies so we can provide best-in-class capabilities to the Army — and the Leonidas AGV is a timely example,” said Keith Barclay, Vice President and General Manager for U.S. Operations at General Dynamics Land Systems. “Integrating leading-edge technology from Epirus and Kodiak into a commercial-based vehicle is one way to ensure American soldiers have the power to win on the battlefield. At GDLS, we’re moving faster than ever before and we think there’s a great future for commercially inspired innovations such as Leonidas AGV.”
“Autonomous mobility fundamentally changes how advanced defensive systems can be deployed and operated,” said Don Burnette, Founder and CEO, Kodiak AI. “By integrating the Kodiak Driver with Epirus’ Leonidas platform and GDLS’ integration expertise, we are demonstrating how commercially developed autonomy enables mobile counter-UAS capabilities that protect critical assets and keep warfighters out of harm’s way. This collaboration directly meets the U.S. military’s need for scalable, adaptable and cost-effective autonomous ground vehicles.”
A full-scale prototype of the autonomous Leonidas AGV vehicle will be showcased at booth 801 during the AUSA Global Force Symposium & Exhibition in Huntsville, Alabama.
A video demonstrating how the Leonidas AGV system is intended to operate: