TORRANCE, Calif. — Epirus announced today an $11 million U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) contract, awarded through the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research, for the High-power microwave Autonomous Vehicle Operational Capability (HAVOC) program. 

Epirus will deliver its latest high-power microwave (HPM) system for counter-UAS and counter-swarm point defense. The system will feature a universal sled mount for seamless integration across the Marine Corps’ manned and unmanned ground vehicle fleets, enabling scalable deployment and flexible mission configurations. 

The HAVOC system is an autonomy-enabled evolution of the Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm (ExDECS) system Epirus delivered to the USMC in2025. 

“This award highlights the Marine Corps’ commitment to fielding integrated, software-defined systems optimized for the complex and rapidly evolving drone threat,” said Andy Lowery, Epirus CEO. “The HAVOC system will advance the one-to-many solution introduced with ExDECS and strengthen the Marines’ ability to deliver precise, low-collateral protection of high-value points and Marine warfighters.” 

Powered by the latest evolution of Epirus’ high-power microwave platform, the HAVOC system will introduce significant gains in electronic lethality, reliability and operational efficiency. The upgraded system will also expand coverage and power output while enabling continuous software-driven tuning. 

As part of a layered, mobile protection solution, the HAVOC system will provide a resilient, non-kinetic option for Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) formations. The mobile HPM system will extend the counter-UAS line of defense to protect ground-based air defense assets, refueling points, radars, communications, power equipment and other forward-deployed assets. 

The contract includes training, service and sustainment support with options for an additional system and associated solutions.