Epirus, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), and Kodiak AI (Kodiak) have unveiled the Leonidas Autonomous Ground Vehicle (AGV), a mobile, fully autonomous vehicle designed for counter-UAS, critical point defense, and homeland security missions.
The Leonidas AGV features Epirus’ Leonidas high-power microwave (HPM) platform integrated onto a commercial-grade truck platform equipped with Kodiak’s AI-powered autonomous driving system, the Kodiak Driver. General Dynamics Land Systems served as the lead system integrator.
The Leonidas AGV delivers a mobile counter-UAS capability that can operate without human intervention or be teleoperated to extend the counter-UAS line of defense across fixed-site and expeditionary mission sets.
Designed for autonomous critical point defense counter-UAS operations, the Leonidas AGV can rapidly deploy to pre-planned intercept points or maneuver across a perimeter to protect critical assets from individual drone, swarm, or fiber-optic controlled drone attacks. The system is well-suited for defense of military installations, forward operating bases, airports, ports, energy infrastructure, and major public events. Its autonomous and teleoperation modes allow operators to scale coverage, reposition dynamically, and maintain continuous protection from drone threats.
The Leonidas AGV showcases the modularity and scalability of Epirus’ Leonidas HPM platform, a tested and proven counter-UAS solution that delivers software-defined electromagnetic interference effects to precisely neutralize drone threats. Leonidas safely defeats individual drones and saturation swarm attacks without expending costly and limited interceptors, creating a resilient, low-collateral close-in defense layer for critical assets and infrastructure.
The industry-leading, dual-use Kodiak Driver system enables the Leonidas AGV to operate autonomously across complex environments, from structured highways to unstructured off-road terrain. The system’s modular architecture ensures reliable and safe movement in areas where human operation may be inefficient or unsafe. With advanced perception and autonomous navigation, the Kodiak Driver allows the Leonidas AGV to maneuver dynamically and maintain uninterrupted counter-UAS coverage in contested environments.
Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, stated: “Saturation drone attacks demand a fundamentally different approach to defense. 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.”
Keith Barclay, Vice President and General Manager for U.S. Operations at General Dynamics Land Systems, added: “We partner with other companies so we can provide best-in-class capabilities to the Army—and the Leonidas AGV is a timely example. 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.”
Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak AI, said: “Autonomous mobility fundamentally changes how advanced defensive systems can be deployed and operated. 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.”
