Building the Base Defending Against the Drone Threat: Counter-UAS Applications with Andy Lowery, CEO Epirus
In this episode of Building the Base, Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, discusses his journey from his days as a Navy reactor operator to leading a counter-UAS high-power microwave (HPM) system company. Epirus' HPM technology, which uses electromagnetic pulses to disable drones, has been tested successfully by the Army for over 15 months. Lowery emphasizes the importance of directed energy in countering short-range air threats and highlighted the need for policy updates to facilitate faster deployment. He notes the challenges of building a single-use hardware company and the importance of partnerships, particularly with the DoD and international allies. Lowery also stresses the need for authority to operate and the willingness to take risks to address the growing drone threat.
Five key takeaways from this episode:
- Andy Lowery's career brought him from enlisted Navy nuclear reactor operator to Raytheon Chief Engineer to now CEO of pioneering counter-UAS technology company Epirus.
- Epirus' high-powered microwave (HPM) systems work to disrupt drone electronics, and have yet to be defeated in a field trial.
- There are unique challenges associated with building a hardware-focused, single-use defense company like Epirus, compared to more dual-use or software-driven startups.
- Epirus has worked to update export control policies and leverage frameworks like AUKUS to enable faster international collaboration and technology sharing on counter-UAS capabilities.
- Lowery observes a "spring" of enthusiasm among engineers to work on cutting-edge defense projects, and the development of a dynamic talent pool across companies like Epirus, Anduril, SpaceX, Palantir and more.