X-Bow Systems Unveils Buckler, a Mass-Producible Drone Interceptor Under $100,000

Published Jul 20, 11:24 AM UTC

X-Bow Systems has unveiled Buckler, a flight-tested interceptor designed to shoot down Group 3 drones at supersonic speeds, priced under $100,000 per unit. The company manufactures the airframe, solid rocket motor, and propellant entirely in-house, bypassing the constrained supply chain of traditional suppliers like Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne. CEO Jason Hundley framed the weapon as a direct response to the unsustainable cost of using million-dollar missiles against cheap drones like Iran's Shahed-136. Buckler recently completed a successful flight test and was unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow. X-Bow's containerized 'Rocket Factory in a Box' production system, certified by the Air Force Research Laboratory, enables scalable manufacturing. The name 'Buckler' references a medieval shield, emphasizing its role as a cheap, close-in defensive tool.