SerpApi.Org
A US defense and aerospace manufacturer has recently unveiled a one-to-many airborne counter-drone weapon, designed to neutralize large swarms of hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while keeping operating costs low.
Named Morfius X-rotor, the reusable system was created by Lockheed Martin. It reportedly relies on high-power microwave (HPM) technology to disable multiple drones during a single mission.
According to the Maryland-based company, the weapon can neutralize more than 50 enemy drones in one flight before being recovered and prepared for reuse. Its launch comes as drone swarms become a growing threat on modern battlefields.
“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 Advance Programs, said.
How it works
Morfius X-rotor is a ‘one-to-many airborne high-power microwave counter‑drone system. It uses directed beams of electromagnetic energy to instantly disrupt the internal electronics and guidance systems of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Compared with kinetic interceptors, HPMs can neutralize multiple drones at once. This makes them highly effective against coordinated swarm attacks. In addition, because the aircraft can be recovered after the mission, it is cheaper to use than disposable systems.
The system is also compatible with a many existing sensors and command-and-control networks. According to Lockheed Martin, it does not require a dedicated fire-control radar (FCR) or proprietary sensor to guide it toward its targets.
This means it can work with existing battlefield infrastructure. The company said that this flexibility could simplify deployment across different military units and operating environments.
“Designed for field recovery and reuse, Morfius keeps a significantly low cost per kill, protecting defense budgets while maintaining relentless firepower,” company officials said. “Morfius is sensor and command and control agnostic.”
Defeating enemy drones
Lockheed Martin is now accelerating prototype production of both the Morfius platform and its microwave payload to speed deployment. It is also preparing another series of flight demonstrations after completing recent tests in Arizona, California and Oklahoma.
The trials assessed the drone’s flight performance, target interception capabilities, and overall lethality. The latest version builds on previous Morfius variants, which have been flying since 2017.
Lockheed Martin revealed that the new X-rotor also benefits from the same family of high-power microwave effectors that have already proved the ability to defeat difficult targets while minimizing collateral damage.
Morfius aligns with the US Department of Defense’s 2025-2028 Rapid Response Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap. The initiative aims to speed up the deployment of affordable and effective counter-drone technologies.
The company described the system as the only ground-launched, field-reusable airborne high-power microwave system capable of neutralizing more than 50 drones in a single flight while remaining independent of dedicated fire-control radars. It is intended to serve as a force multiplier for military units defending bases, troops, and critical infrastructure against large-scale drone attacks.
“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,” Crites concluded in a press release.
