Lockheed Martin’s latest solution to drone swarms has arrived, and the defense giant is saying it can take on up to 50 enemy systems in just one flight.
The “MORFIUS X-Rotor” is a reusable high-power microwave (HPM) system designed to disable multiple aerial threats before returning for rapid recovery and redeployment, offering a lower-cost alternative to interceptor-based drone defenses.
The company said the platform is both sensor- and command-and-control agnostic, allowing it to integrate with a wide range of existing military networks.
“MORFIUS sets a new benchmark for counter-drone capability — delivering a high kill rate while keeping the cost per kill low,” said Randy Crites, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Advanced Programs.
“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.”
The Path to Operational Use
Lockheed is moving ahead with prototype production of MORFIUS and its HPM payload while preparing additional flight tests.
The upcoming evaluations will build on earlier demonstrations that validated the system’s flight performance, intercept capability, and microwave lethality.
The company said MORFIUS aligns with the US Department of Defense’s Rapid Response Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Roadmap through 2028 as it advances the platform toward operational use.
