Anduril and Epirus are both core suppliers to the US Army counter-UAS enterprise. They are not direct competitors. They occupy distinct, structurally complementary positions: Anduril sets the command-and-control standard via Lattice and integrates engagement capability across the kill chain, while Epirus delivers the differentiated high-power microwave effects that close the cost-per-engagement gap against drone swarm threats. The two appear together in the same procurement programmes precisely because each addresses what the other cannot.
Side By Side
| Anduril Industries | Epirus | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Costa Mesa, California | Torrance, California |
| Latest Valuation | $61 billion (May 2026) | Reported $1B+ range |
| Latest Round | $5B Series H led by Thrive Capital + Andreessen Horowitz | $250M Series D extension (2024) |
| Primary C-UAS Layer | Lattice tactical command-and-control; Roadrunner kinetic interceptor | Leonidas high-power microwave defeat system |
| Defeat Mechanism | Layered kinetic + integrated multi-system C2 | Wide-arc HPM, disables multiple drones per engagement |
| Cost Profile | Per-interceptor variable; programme-managed | Per-shot near zero after capex; magazine depth effectively unlimited |
| US Army Position | $20B Counter-UAS Enterprise Contract (March 2026, Lattice C2 standard) | Leonidas fielded under accelerated acquisition |
| Programme Coexistence | Lattice integrates Epirus effects alongside other defeat systems | Operates within Lattice-coordinated kill chain |
WHY THEY ARE NOT COMPETITORS
The US Army awarded Anduril a $20 billion counter-UAS enterprise contract in March 2026 designating Lattice as the tactical command-and-control standard, with a first task order valued at $87 million. The contract structure is platform-integration first. Vendors whose systems are not Lattice-interoperable face progressive exclusion from the Army's primary contracting vehicle. Epirus is one of the systems Lattice integrates rather than one Lattice competes against.
Epirus Leonidas is a high-power microwave system that disables multiple drones in a single engagement across a wide arc. Per-engagement cost is governed by the electricity to fire the system rather than by interceptor unit cost. The economic case against drone swarm threats is structurally different from kinetic defeat: magazine depth is effectively unlimited, and replenishment costs collapse to operating power rather than missile resupply.
WHAT EACH SOLVES
Anduril solves the integration problem. Counter-UAS in the field requires detection systems, classification, decision authority, engagement coordination, and post-engagement battle damage assessment across heterogeneous hardware. Lattice provides the operator interface and the underlying data fabric that makes those layers function as a single system. Without that integration, individual effects (radar, RF jamming, kinetic interceptors) are operationally disconnected even when each one works.
Epirus solves the mass problem. Drone swarms saturate kinetic defence at unfavourable cost ratios. A $35,000 attritable drone is not economically defeated by a $4 million interceptor. Leonidas changes that equation by collapsing per-engagement cost and by defeating multiple drones in a single firing sequence. The capability is not theoretical: Leonidas is fielded with the US Army under accelerated acquisition pathways.
When To Choose
Choose Anduril Industries if:
- Programme requires integrated command-and-control across multiple defeat systems
- US Army Counter-UAS Enterprise Contract participation is the procurement vehicle
- Multi-domain ISR + counter-UAS architecture demands a single operator interface
Choose Epirus if:
- Threat profile is dominated by drone swarm saturation
- Per-engagement cost economics matter more than per-platform capability
- Operator wants a differentiated capability that complements rather than duplicates kinetic defeat
Full Profiles
Anduril Industries
Costa Mesa, California, USA · Private
Defence technology company building autonomous platforms and the Lattice AI command-and-control platform. The most heavily capitalised non-traditional defence firm in the US.
View profile →Epirus
Torrance, California, USA · Private
High-power microwave (HPM) counter-drone systems. Leonidas platform is the leading non-kinetic solution for defeating drone swarms at distance.
View profile →Sources & References
Drone Intelligence, Comparison. Compiled from public filings, primary sources, and verified disclosures. Last updated 26 May 2026.
paul@droneintelligence.ai