The Sixth Domain Doctrine

The Rise of Autonomous, Robotic, Asymmetric Warfare

For decades, warfare has been organized into five primary domains: land, sea, air, space, and cyber. Yet a new operational battlespace that transcends these traditional categories is emerging. This Sixth Domain is defined not by geography, but by the convergence of low-cost, unmanned robotic systems operating across all other domains with unprecedented speed, autonomy and saturation. 

Unlike prior modes of warfare, The Sixth Domain overwhelms defenses through distributed, networked systems. These attacks resemble a physical analog to cyber’s Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): they seek to exhaust and disable high-value defenses using coordinated, low-cost means. Traditional defense systems, optimized for linear, one-to-one engagements, are increasingly ineffective against this form of mass, robotic incursion. And as artificial intelligence and autonomy continue to advance, the threat will escalate further. 

Confronting this paradigm shift requires more than incremental adaptation. It demands a reimagining of defense strategy, procurement models and industrial partnerships. It requires a new kind of defense company that prioritizes speed over bureaucracy, embraces a system-of-systems approach and blends Silicon Valley innovation with deep national security expertise. 

This is: The Sixth Domain. The doctrine that follows outlines the nature of this emergent battlespace and the imperatives for dominance within it.

War
Simulation

Their mission is precise: disable radar arrays, disrupt air defense systems and sever key communication hubs. Flying autonomously along pre-programmed routes, the drones initiate the first strike, fragmenting the early warning network and destabilizing national command. The attack is silent, instantaneous and multidirectional. It blinds defenders before a single aircraft crosses the border. 

Within minutes, a fleet of over 200 fighter aircraft releases more than 300 precision munitions. Approximately 100 high-value targets are neutralized. Yet their success depends not solely on air superiority but also on the asymmetric robotics that struck first, disorienting and degrading one of the region’s most formidable air defense networks.

This scenario is not a speculative simulation. It is the account of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, executed in June 2025. The operation demonstrated, with decisive clarity, that autonomous, robotic, asymmetric warfare is not a vision of tomorrow, it is the new standard of combat today. 

The Rise of Autonomous, Robotic, Asymmetric Warfare

Asymmetry + Autonomy at Scale Will Break Legacy Defense

The future of conflict will be shaped by swarms of autonomous machines, not by lone soldiers or exquisite platforms. These systems, distributed and self-guided, are built not for linear engagements, but for overwhelming saturation. Like a cyber DDoS attack made physical, they aim to destabilize through sheer volume, speed and unpredictability. 

In 2024, Ukraine produced 2.2 million aerial drones. According to Ukrainian defense officials, single-use drones now account for roughly 70% of frontline casualties.In Operation Spider’s Web, Ukraine launched a surprise drone swarm assault on Engels Air Base deep inside Russian territory. A wave of 117 low-cost FPV drones destroyed or disabled over 30% of Russia’s strategic bombers (around 40 aircraft). The drones cost less than $120,000 in aggregate, yet inflicted an estimated $7 billion in damage.

And these tactics are not limited to the air. Ukraine has used unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to degrade more than 30% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Armed drone boats have destroyed critical naval assets, including helicopters and components of Russia’s Nebo-M radar systems without a traditional navy.

On land, Ukraine is projected to produce 15,000 unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in 2025; quantities once reserved for expendable munitions. This trend is global and cross-domain. In March 2025, U.S. Space Force General Michael Guetlein reported observing five Chinese “objects” conducting synchronized maneuvering exercises in orbit. The Sixth Domain extends into space, where autonomous systems are already training for orbital conflict. 

The platforms of the past, tanks, carriers, satellites, were built for peer-on-peer engagements and static deterrence. But these systems are increasingly vulnerable to smaller, cheaper, faster robotics. One-to-one designs are insufficient against one-to-many threats. Saturation is now a form of dominance. 

Disrupting Legacy Force Design: Scale, Speed, Complexity 

The strategic advantage of The Sixth Domain does not arise from technological novelty alone, but from how autonomy and asymmetry rewire the rules of engagement. Three dynamics define its disruptive power: 

The Asymmetric Cost Curve

Militaries around the world are caught in a dangerous economic imbalance. They spend millions per intercept while adversaries spend a fraction of that to conduct an attack. As autonomous systems evolve, this gap will widen. Exquisite platforms are no longer deterrents, they are soft targets. To survive and win in The Sixth Domain, defense systems must be reimagined around two core principles. 

Two Axioms for The Sixth Domain 

Axiom 1: Human–Machine Teaming Is Essential 

As operational tempos increase and decision cycles compress, hybrid warfare models, where machines handle speed and complexity while humans provide strategic and ethical oversight, will become standard. This “centaur model” blends the strengths of AI and human judgment to meet the demands of distributed warfare.

Axiom 2: One-to-Many Systems Are the New Foundation 

Legacy platforms optimized for one-to-one engagement cannot meet the demands of distributed threats. What is required is a layered system-of-systems approach. One centered on weaponized electromagnetic interference, fast-reconfiguring software and modular design, enabling wide-area defense with minimal human burden.

Together, these axioms call for a complete reorientation of how the United States develops, procures and fields its defense capabilities. 

Innovate
or Lose

Why Attritable Mass Alone Is Not the Path to Victory 

The maxim “peace through strength” still holds, but in The Sixth Domain, strength must be redefined. The victors of tomorrow will not be those with the largest stockpile of drones or the most exquisite platforms. They will be those who innovate faster, adapt more fluidly and field defenses that can defeat swarms with a single warfighter at the helm. 

Legacy platforms were designed for conventional peer conflict. But in modern simulations, these systems are increasingly outmatched. In a 2024 U.S. Department of Defense wargame, drone swarms played a decisive role in the defeat of a Chinese amphibious force, demonstrating that massed autonomy can neutralize high-end systems, even when those systems are technically superior.

Yet attritable mass alone is not a strategic advantage. China’s Military-Civil Fusion doctrine mandates the direct integration of commercial breakthroughs. Technologies such as AI, robotics and telecommunications become state-run defense efforts. Chinese defense firms are state-subsidized, minimally regulated, and oriented toward mass production. Their strategic posture enables defense manufacturing at speeds that democratic nations struggle to match. 

These dynamics expose a structural imbalance. Authoritarian regimes can mobilize entire economies, sidestep oversight and build at scale. They are not constrained by congressional appropriations, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), or export control regimes like ITAR.

Trying to “out-mass” adversaries in this environment is both unrealistic and strategically unsound. Instead, the United States must compete where it maintains asymmetric advantage: in agility, ingenuity and openness. 

Competing Through Innovation: The American Edge

Rather than mirroring the command economies of authoritarian rivals, the U.S. must double down on the innovation architecture that has historically defined its defense superiority. This includes: 

• Public-private partnerships with academic institutions 
• Robust venture capital ecosystems 
• Competitive, merit-based contracting 
• A diversified $27 trillion economy that converts commercial innovation into defense advantage 

These ingredients, which are uniquely American, have historically yielded world-changing results. 

The Impact of U.S. Innovation, 1941-Present 

These examples share a common feature: decisive, risk-tolerant innovation. They were not just responses to strategic threats. They were anticipatory moves that redefined the battlespace. 

Where Autonomy is Heading

The evolution of autonomy is accelerating toward multi-domain coordination. Unmanned aerial, ground, surface and even space-based platforms will operate as networked swarms. Enabled by machine learning, they will sense, decide and adapt with human-like cognition, but at machine speed. 

Countering this threat demands a layered, software-defined defense architecture. The complexity of saturation attacks renders single-point defenses obsolete. No “silver bullet” exists. Only systems that can be updated in real time, re-tasked dynamically and fielded rapidly will suffice. 

To succeed in this environment, the U.S. must adopt five critical tenets.  

Five Imperatives for The Sixth Domain  

As the battlespace continues to evolve, the lesson is clear: innovation wins. Not just innovation in technology, but innovation in acquisition, architecture and strategy. 

The U.S. must build not just systems—but systems of innovation—capable of out-adapting any adversary, anywhere. 

Our HPM systems are smaller, more efficient, and scalable, with proven operational use in combatant commands. Our steerable beams and real-time waveform control allow for precise, adaptable effects, including frequency notching and safe-zone designations for low-collateral impact that legacy systems simply cannot match.

Leonidas’ phased array incorporates line replaceable amplifier modules, providing graceful degradation. If individual amplifier modules fail or are damaged, the system maintains functionality. This ensures continued mission effectiveness even under partial system failure compared to legacy systems which have a single point of failure when a single component is compromised.

Action Towards
Victory

Neo-Primes: The Path to Operational Dominance in The Sixth Domain  

To dominate The Sixth Domain, the U.S. must empower a new generation of defense companies: firms built not around contracts, but around products. At Epirus, we call these firms neo-primes. They are fast-moving, product-centric companies that anticipate threats, prototype ahead of requirements and deliver capabilities with operational relevance. 

This is not merely a philosophical distinction. It is a functional one. Neo-primes differ from traditional defense integrators in both structure and purpose. They are defined by speed, accountability and a willingness to assume technical risk.

Epirus is one such company. Founded in 2018, we built our first high-power microwave (HPM) systems using internal R&D. No government contract, no acquisition milestones and no waiting for formal requirements. We moved fast because the threat was already here. 

The Role of Venture Capital in National Security

Our innovation would not have been possible without venture capital backing. Like many commercial product companies, Epirus raised private capital to pursue a defense application no prime contractor was willing or able to tackle. We adapted commercial technologies, recruited interdisciplinary teams and invested early in manufacturing. In doing so, we were able to meet a critical national security need before the acquisition system even recognized it. 

This is the future of U.S. defense innovation: 

• Anticipatory capability development 
• Agile hardware built on software-defined foundations 
• Platforms engineered for production and scale, not one-off delivery 

Harris Corporation (now L3Harris) succeeded by building commercially derived tactical radios that met a clear operational need. These products, built from off-the-shelf components, were cost-effective, rapidly produced and widely deployed. They exemplify the model Epirus is working toward: scalable, mission-relevant technologies that serve as enduring assets across the joint force. 

Contrast this with the traditional systems integrator. Most legacy primes are structured to win programs, not build platforms. They are solutions providers, not product companies. Their incentive structures favor long timelines, complex compliance processes and programmatic control, not speed or user-centered design. 

The idea of a firm being both a platform-first product company and a global systems integrator is conceptually incoherent. The incentives are fundamentally misaligned. 

Reforming Acquisition for the Age of Autonomy 

To capitalize on the advantages of neo-primes, the DoD must reform its acquisition policies to reflect the modern innovation landscape. The current system was designed for a world in which government agencies led technological advancement. That is no longer the case. In The Sixth Domain, the private sector leads and the acquisition system must evolve accordingly. 

Acquisition Reform for the Product-Centric Era 

In The Sixth Domain, defense capabilities evolve rapidly, adapt through software and must be treated as products, not projects. The DoD must reform its acquisition system to reflect this shift, enabling faster fielding of multifunction systems built by agile, product-led companies. We propose four foundational reforms: 

These reforms are not incremental. They reflect a deeper philosophical shift: treating neo-primes like product companies, not contractors.

The Enduring Role of Traditional Primes 

The rise of neo-primes does not diminish the importance of traditional defense contractors. In fact, their continued success is vital to the defense industrial base. But their role is evolving. 

First, as neutral systems integrators, traditional primes are well-positioned to architect system-of-systems solutions that combine best-in-class components from across the defense ecosystem. Because they are contract-driven rather than product-bound, primes are incentivized to select the most effective solution for the mission, rather than exclusively promoting their own technologies. This neutrality is essential in a battlespace increasingly defined by modularity, interoperability and rapid integration. 

Second, traditional primes possess the scale, infrastructure and global workforce to accelerate the adoption and sustainment of innovation. As agile product companies develop disruptive capabilities, primes can partner to produce at scale, manage global supply chains and deliver field support across combatant commands. Their deep experience in aftermarket services and life-cycle support will be critical as neo-prime technologies move from demonstration to deployment. 

Third, primes will continue to own and evolve exquisite, large-scale systems that remain essential to traditional warfare. Programs such as the MIM-104 Patriot, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, TPY-2 radar and the F-35 represent decades of strategic investment and are irreplaceable for deterrence and escalation control. These platforms, while not designed for saturation threat environments, remain vital components of U.S. and allied force posture. 

Victory in The Sixth Domain will not come through legacy programs alone. It will come from hybrid ecosystems that blend the scale of traditional primes with the agility of neo-primes. 

The Epirus Approach: Product-Led, User-Focused, Mission-Aligned 

At Epirus, our design philosophy is centered on usability, survivability and speed. Our Leonidas HPM platform represents a leap forward in directed energy: an active electronically scanned array (AESA) weapon system engineered to defeat electronic threats in real time through weaponized electromagnetic interference. 

This system combines: 

• Solid-state GaN amplifiers for compact, high-efficiency output 
• AI-enabled power management for energy efficiency under extreme conditions 
• Modular, line-replaceable amplifier modules (LRAMs) for rapid field service 
• Software-defined control for dynamic re-tasking and threat adaptation 

Should a LRAM fail in the field, Leonidas continues operating through graceful degradation, avoiding single-point failure modes that plague legacy weapon-system architectures. Operators can replace modules without requiring depot-level maintenance. This not only improves uptime but empowers forces to sustain mission effectiveness under pressure. 

Our systems also minimizes collateral damage. Unlike kinetic interceptors, Leonidas emits no shrapnel or explosive force. This enables engagement in urban or populated environments where traditional counter-drone systems pose unacceptable risks. 

We follow a user-centered design process that reduces cognitive load, increases ease of use and ensures operational relevance. We do not design for perfection in a lab. We design for decision-making under stress, field conditions and asymmetric attack. 

Building for the Fight Already Underway 

Since our founding in 2018, Epirus has delivered what others claimed was impossible: we revived and modernized high-power microwave technology. We created an entirely new weapon class: weaponized electromagnetic interference. The system has been proven effective in testing against drones in the air, boats on the water and robotic systems on the ground. 

But we are not just building to win a contract. We are building to win a war. A war already playing out on battlefields around the world. 

Winning in The Sixth Domain will require a whole-of-government and whole-of-industry effort. The U.S. must mobilize its innovation ecosystem to bring these capabilities to the field faster than ever before. 

Neo-primes are the key to this future. They combine the urgency of commercial startups with the responsibility of national defense. And they build for what comes next, not what came before. 

Conclusion: Two Futures

In Operation Rising Lion and Operation Spider’s Web, Israel and Ukraine employed swarms of autonomous drones to neutralize hardened defenses and strategic assets with precision and surprise. Rear Admiral Paul Spedero, Vice Director for Operations on the Joint Staff, recently warned that “mass drone incursions over Joint Base Langley-Eustis in December 2023 reminded us that the homeland is no longer a sanctuary.” The threat is not coming. It is here. And in many cases, the U.S. is not prepared. 

But imagine a different future: 
A future where every base is shielded by next-generation directed energy systems, capable of neutralizing swarms with speed and precision. Where multifunction platforms adapt instantly to new threat vectors through over-the-air software updates. Where warfighters manage integrated defense networks from intuitive, human-centered interfaces—rather than navigating bureaucratic procurement delays or cumbersome legacy systems. Where U.S.-built systems dominate the electromagnetic battlespace, keeping adversaries on the defensive. 

This is not a fantasy. The technologies exist. The urgency is real. The only variable is willpower. 

Signs of Progress: The Policy Shift Underway 

The U.S. government is beginning to recognize this new reality. In April 2025, President Trump’s executive order on acquisition reform explicitly prioritized speed, flexibility and innovation, launching what he dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which allocates hundreds of millions of dollars toward counter-drone defense. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Army Transformation Initiative calls for electromagnetic and air-littoral dominance by 2027, mandating the end of obsolete programs and accelerated adoption of advanced systems. 

Legislation such as the SPEED and FoRGED Acts signal Congressional momentum toward modernization. The Pentagon’s creation of a joint, interagency task force for counter-drone technology represents a concrete step toward operational readiness. 

These are promising developments, but progress must be measured not in initiatives, but in fielded capabilities. 

Epirus: Built for the Fight Already Underway

Since our founding in 2018, Epirus has done what others said was impossible.   

We revived HPM technology once relegated to dusty research labs. We turned electromagnetic interference into systems that operate like a force field: invisible, scalable and surgical in their effects. And we did it without waiting for permission. 

Our systems have now deployed to combatant commands for counter-electronics and critical asset protection. But we’re not stopping there. 

We envision a future in which weaponized electromagnetic interference is ubiquitous. They are integrated across services, platforms and environments to defend forward positions, moving convoys, urban centers and the homeland itself.

Winning in The Sixth Domain will not be easy. It will require cultural change, policy reform and bold leadership from both government and industry. But it is achievable. 

The U.S. has met existential threats before. It did so not through inertia, but through ingenuity. We believe we will do so again. 

Final Word: The Mandate of This Moment 

Victory in The Sixth Domain will come from embracing a new model of national security. A model where speed, adaptability and product thinking define how we prepare for war. 

It will require: 

• Defense firms that innovate like tech companies 
• Acquisition models that reward capability, not compliance 
• Software-defined systems that evolve faster than the threat 
• A national commitment to building at the speed of relevance 

We believe the companies that will win in this domain are already here. We believe Epirus is one of them. 

Because our national security demands more than “innovation speak.” 

It demands action. 

It demands capability. 
It demands urgency. 
It demands victory. 

Victory in The Sixth Domain demands Epirus. 

So Epirus we have built.