A defense tech startup, Epirus, has revealed a revolutionary solution to counter the increasing drone menace: a "Star Trek-style" laser shield that can incapacitate or annihilate drones within seconds, the company claims.

It is referred to as the Leonidas system, and it employs a high-powered microwave to attack swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and precision targets from astounding ranges.

Epirus, a Torrance, California-based company, just closed a successful $250 million Series D round of funding, its total venture capital backing now exceeding $550 million, according to Reuters. The strong financial support comes as defense contractors are seeing increased demand for sophisticated weaponry in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the increasing worldwide threat of drones.

The most recent funding round, led jointly by 8VC and Washington Harbour Partners LP, also included participation from General Dynamics' Land Systems business, demonstrating high demand for Epirus' anti-drone capabilities. The capital will be applied to strengthen the supply chain, grow in international and commercial markets, and expand the workforce, including the opening of a new counter-drone warfare training facility in Oklahoma.

Leonidas: A "Star Trek" Shield

The star of Epirus' innovation is the Leonidas counter-drone system, a ground-directed energy weapon that sends out an electromagnetic pulse to shut down drones. Epirus founder Joe Lonsdale likened the system to a "Star Trek shield" and said that it can take down threats from a great distance, a huge benefit over old-style defense systems. "It can shut them off from very far away," Lonsdale told Fox News.

As drone swarms are taking over as the preferred strategy in wars like the Russia-Ukraine war, the Leonidas system might be able to overcome the disadvantages of traditional defense systems in targeting individual UAVs.

"Swarming drones are the future of warfare," Lonsdale said. "Right now, these drones are expensive and hard to stop."

Epirus' system would change short-range defense, moving the military from a "1-to-1" to a "1-to-many" approach, as CEO Andy Lowery explained. "This technology will touch every element of warfare in the next decade," Lonsdale forecasted, also seeing potential for other applications, like satellite protection or stopping planes in flight.

Global Race to Counter UAVs: U.S. Pushes for More Advanced Technology

The fast-growing numbers of drones have fueled an international arms race to develop more effective countermeasures. Leonidas, made by Epirus, is already in U.S. Army testing, after being awarded a $66 million contract in 2023, and is being deployed in the Middle East for operational employment.

U.S. Central Command, which directs the region's military operations, is currently testing the system.

But Lonsdale underscored that the U.S. military needs to ramp up its action to remain ahead of competitors in the counter-UAV effort.

"We are not doing what we need to do," stated Rep. Rob Wittman, vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee. "We have failed miserably at counter-UAS."

As drone warfare advances, businesses such as Epirus are at the forefront of providing new solutions to counter this emerging threat. With their cutting-edge laser and microwave capabilities, the battle against kamikaze drones might be on the cusp of a new, more efficient chapter.