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X‑Bow Unveils Buckler, a Flight‑Tested Supersonic Interceptor Priced Under $100,000

If X‑Bow’s claims hold, the system could shift the cost balance against mass Group 3 drone attacks by offering a low‑cost, mass‑producible intercept option.

Overview

  • X‑Bow publicly unveiled Buckler at the Farnborough Airshow on Monday as a flight‑tested interceptor the company says travels at supersonic speed and costs under US$100,000 per unit.
  • The firm says Buckler completed motor static‑fire and igniter tests and a successful flight test, moves it beyond concept stage in X‑Bow’s account but these results have not been independently verified.
  • X‑Bow emphasizes vertical integration — it builds Buckler’s airframe, solid rocket motor and propellant in‑house and operates an AFRL‑certified containerized 'Rocket Factory in a Box' to scale production fast.
  • The company says investor backing and a growing backlog support its pitch that Buckler can reverse the unsustainable practice of using million‑dollar interceptors against low‑cost Group 3 drones.
  • Next steps include briefings and a public display at the Space & Missile Defense Symposium in August, though government procurement deals, fielding timelines and third‑party performance data remain undisclosed.