Epirus, a defense technology company specializing in anti-drone systems, has raised an oversubscribed $250 million Series D to scale its high-powered electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons.
The round was co-led by 8VC and Washington Harbour Partners LP, with participation from General Dynamics Land Systems and Gaingels.
Advancing EMP Weapons for Military & Commercial Use
Epirus‘ flagship system, Leonidas, is designed to disable drone swarms using electromagnetic pulses in real-time. The company has secured multiple U.S. military contracts, including a $66 million deal from the U.S. Army in 2023.
Co-founder Joe Lonsdale, also a Palantir co-founder, emphasized Leonidas’ capabilities:
“This is the most effective defense against drone swarms today.”
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Funding Expansion & Global Growth
The firm plans to use the new funding to:
- Expand into international markets, beyond U.S. military applications.
- Strengthen its supply chain to increase production.
- Open a new simulation and training center in Oklahoma.
A Growing Defense Tech Unicorn
With this round, the company has raised over $550 million to date. While the company did not disclose an updated valuation, it confirmed it remains above $1 billion.
Epirus joins a select group of high-growth defense startups, including:
- Anduril, raising at a $28 billion valuation.
- Shield AI, valued at $5 billion.
- Saronic, last valued at $4 billion.
With $250M in fresh capital, Epirus is accelerating the future of directed-energy weapons, positioning itself as a key player in global defense innovation.
