The U.S. Army Southern Border Joint Task Force deployed the Bumblebee V2 counter-drone system to the Chaparral area of New Mexico on October 21 for operational testing. The system is designed as a kinetic interceptor that eliminates hostile unmanned aircraft through direct collision, disabling both aircraft upon impact without carrying explosives.

The upgraded version incorporates a triple-camera array, enhanced gimbal rotation mechanism, and artificial intelligence-powered automatic target recognition. These technologies enable the drone to detect, track, and engage targets while operating under operator supervision. During the deployment, military personnel and company officials received training on system operation. The U.S. Army stated that the training aimed to enhance interoperability and test methods for preventing suspected illegal drone operations near the southern border under Operation Ardent Vanguard.

Bumblebee V2 is manufactured by Perennial Autonomy, a company founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt under Project Eagle. The same company develops the Merops interceptor, which has neutralized over 4,000 Russian unmanned aircraft in Ukrainian airspace, and the Hornet kamikaze UAV. The earlier version, Bumblebee V1, is operationally deployed in Ukraine, with tens of thousands delivered to the country's Unmanned Systems Forces. Ukrainian units employ this platform at the tactical level against Russian FPV drones and Molniya attack unmanned aircraft.

The U.S. Army's 401st Joint Interagency Task Force acquired Bumblebee V2 through a 5.2 million dollar agreement signed on January 30, with deliveries beginning in March 2026. Subsequently, Ranger units evaluated the system at Fort Benning, Georgia, in July 2026 as a homeland defense tool for protecting military installations and critical infrastructure. The Pentagon awarded Perennial Autonomy a three-year contract valued up to 500 million dollars for counter-drone interceptors in May 2026.

Unmanned aircraft activity continues along the southern border. According to a Breaking Defense report from October 2026, during the 30 days preceding the conclusion of anti-drone exercises at Yuma Test Range, Arizona, in September, the Southern Border Joint Task Force recorded 378 drone detections, 75 returns, 15 interceptions, and one drone seizure. Officials stated that most drones were commercial quadcopters flown for reconnaissance to support human trafficking operations. The U.S. Army is testing additional Ukraine-origin interceptor systems for border operations.