FARNBOROUGH, England – Lockheed Martin has unveiled MORFIUS X-Rotor, a next-generation airborne counter-drone weapon designed to neutralize large swarms of enemy drones using high-power microwave technology instead of traditional missiles or guns.
The company announced the system during the Farnborough International Airshow, describing MORFIUS X-Rotor as a reusable, ground-launched platform capable of disabling more than 50 hostile drones during a single flight.
Designed to counter growing drone threats
As inexpensive commercial drones become increasingly common on battlefields, militaries around the world have sought more affordable ways to defeat large drone swarms without relying on costly interceptor missiles.
According to Lockheed Martin, MORFIUS X-Rotor emits high-power microwave energy capable of disrupting or disabling the electronics inside multiple drones at once.
Unlike kinetic interceptors that destroy a single target before requiring another missile, microwave systems can potentially affect numerous drones during one engagement.
Reusable system aims to lower costs
One of the system’s key features is its ability to return for reuse after completing a mission.
Lockheed Martin said the reusable design helps keep the “cost per kill” significantly lower than conventional air defense systems while reducing logistical demands in combat.
The company also said MORFIUS X-Rotor is compatible with a variety of existing sensors and command-and-control networks, eliminating the need for dedicated fire-control radar or proprietary targeting equipment.
Flight testing continues
Lockheed Martin said it is accelerating prototype production while planning additional flight tests following previous demonstrations in Arizona, California, and Oklahoma.
Those tests evaluated flight performance, target interception, and the effectiveness of the system’s high-power microwave payload under operational conditions.
The company said the latest version builds upon previous MORFIUS variants that have been flying since 2017.
Company cites Pentagon strategy
Lockheed Martin said MORFIUS X-Rotor aligns with the U.S. Defense Department’s roadmap for rapidly fielding counter-unmanned aircraft systems as drone warfare continues to evolve.
“MORFIUS sets a new benchmark for counter-drone capability—delivering a high kill rate while keeping the cost per kill low,” Randy Crites, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Advanced Programs, said in a statement.
“By leveraging a lightweight, field reusable high-power microwave architecture, we provide the most effective, low-cost solution on the market today and demonstrate Lockheed Martin’s ability to field innovative, affordable technologies at the speed our American and allied troops need.”
Why it matters
Drone swarms have emerged as one of the fastest-growing threats on modern battlefields, particularly in conflicts where low-cost unmanned aircraft have been used to overwhelm traditional air defenses. Systems such as MORFIUS X-Rotor are intended to provide military forces with a scalable, reusable option capable of countering large numbers of drones while reducing reliance on expensive interceptor missiles.
