U.S. Firm Demos Electronic Suppression of Fiber Optic-equipped FPV Drones

U.S. defense firm Epirus has demonstrated the electronic suppression of fiber optic-equipped first-person-view (FPV) drones, challenging the assumption that such systems are immune to electronic attack.

The company said its Leonidas high-power microwave system disabled an FPV drone controlled via a fiber optic cable at a range of several hundred meters. The drone did not rely on a radio-frequency control link, a feature that has allowed fiber optic FPVs to evade conventional jamming.

Military analysts say the test reveals a key vulnerability: while fiber optic drones cannot be jammed in the traditional sense, their onboard electronics can still be damaged by focused electromagnetic energy, rendering the aircraft inoperable.

Leonidas is a solid-state, high-power microwave system built using gallium nitride semiconductors. Epirus states the system combines a compact footprint, reduced weight, and short deployment time with the ability to deliver directed electromagnetic effects.

The standard configuration includes L3Harris’ MX-10D optoelectronic module, featuring a 640 × 512 medium-wave thermal imaging sensor, daylight and low-light cameras, and is paired with multifunction radars from Israeli firm ieMHR.

Company engineers say Leonidas can be deployed on fixed installations and surface ships.

Fiber optic FPV drones are being used extensively in the war in Ukraine, where their resistance to jamming has complicated counter-drone efforts. Ukrainian forces have previously acknowledged the lack of effective means to counter such UAVs.