X-Bow Systems unveils sub-$100,000 Buckler drone interceptor

Published Jul 21, 10:56 AM UTC

X-Bow Systems, a solid rocket motor manufacturer, unveiled the Buckler interceptor at the 2026 Farnborough Airshow, designed to kill Group 3 drones for under $100,000 per unit. The supersonic interceptor is built entirely in-house to avoid production bottlenecks. The launch addresses the growing cost disparity highlighted by the US-Iran conflict, where a single PAC-3 interceptor costing up to $4 million is used against cheap Shahed drones. CEO Jason Hundley emphasized the need for affordable, scalable capability. Lockheed Martin also introduced competing low-cost solutions, including the Morfius X-Rotor microwave system and a cheaper Patriot interceptor.