Bumblebee V2 Interceptor Arrives at MacDill AFB, Giving the Air Force a Drone That Rams Drones
Air Force security personnel trained with Perennial Autonomy's Bumblebee V2 counter-drone interceptor at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, on October 8, 2026, alongside Joint Interagency Task Force 401. The warheadless quadcopter disables small unmanned aircraft by collision and incorporates a gimballed three-camera array, automated target recognition and speed control to assist interception under operator oversight. The 6th Security Forces Squadron also trained with the Paladin system, which uses a net round to defeat drones. The activity extended earlier Army assessments to installation security, although the announcement did not establish a permanent MacDill deployment, disclose interceptor numbers or confirm a successful local interception.