Epirus has received an $11 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) for the High-power microwave Autonomous Vehicle Operational Capability (HAVOC) programme. The contract was awarded through the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research.
Under the contract, Epirus will provide its latest high-power microwave (HPM) system for counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and counter-swarm point defence missions.
The HAVOC system will feature a universal sled mount designed to allow integration across the Marine Corps’ manned and unmanned ground vehicle fleets. This configuration is intended to support scalable deployment and different mission configurations.
HAVOC is an autonomy-enabled development of the Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm (ExDECS) system that Epirus delivered to the USMC in 2025.
Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, said the award reflects the Marine Corps’ focus on integrated, software-defined systems designed to address evolving drone threats. He said HAVOC will build on the one-to-many capability introduced with ExDECS and support protection of high-value assets and Marine personnel.
The HAVOC system will use the latest development of Epirus’ high-power microwave technology, with improvements in electronic effects, reliability and operational efficiency. The upgraded system will also provide increased coverage and power output while supporting continuous software-based tuning.
As part of a layered and mobile protection capability, HAVOC will provide a non-kinetic option for Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) formations. The mobile HPM system is intended to extend counter-UAS protection to ground-based air defence assets, refuelling points, radars, communications equipment, power systems and other forward-deployed assets.
The contract also includes training, service and sustainment support, with options for an additional system and associated solutions.
