U.S. troops test upgraded Bumblebee interceptor on southern border

Joint Task Force-Southern Border staged Perennial Autonomy's Bumblebee Version 2 interceptor drones near Chaparral, New Mexico, on October 21 for testing and operator training. The lightweight counter-UAS aircraft uses AI-based target recognition and destroys hostile drones through physical impact, with military personnel and contractors preparing the systems for border-related evaluations. The Army's Joint Interagency Task Force 401 initially acquired Bumblebee V2 under a $5.2 million agreement awarded January 30, followed by deliveries beginning in March. The latest activity does not establish routine operational use at the border, and the military has not announced a transition date from testing.