U.S. Army tests AI-enabled Bumblebee V2 counter-drone system in rapid push to field low-cost interceptors
The U.S. military has begun operational testing of the Bumblebee V2 counter-drone system, adding AI-based target recognition to speed deployment of low-cost air interceptors.
The April 23 assessment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, marked the first prototype trials of the second-generation Bumblebee under Joint Inter-Agency Task Force 401, a Pentagon-led effort created to accelerate counter-UAS fielding. The V2 builds on the earlier V1 hard-kill design but adds upgraded cameras, sensors and automated target recognition software intended to reduce operator workload during the final stage of an interception. Instead of requiring a soldier to manually fly one drone into another throughout the engagement, the new version is designed to let an operator command the terminal attack while the aircraft locks onto the hostile drone and completes the collision autonomously. California-based Perennial Autonomy is producing the system under an initial $5.2 million contract awarded in February 2026. The package includes the interceptor drone, battery pack, autonomy features, controls, ground station, antennas and integrated command-and-control software.
At Salerno jump field, soldiers tested both V1 and V2 in anti-bomber and anti-ISR scenarios against a target drone acting as an adversary aircraft. Operators worked singly or in pairs at ranges out to 900 meters, with battery endurance of roughly 20 to 25 minutes depending on speed. The task force deliberately used young soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division who had little prior counter-UAS experience. The aim was to prove the system can be used at small-unit level with limited training and minimal setup time. Officials said the early response from warfighters has been strong, both on ease of use and on the practical value of the capability. The military sees that as critical as drone threats spread across battlefields and bases, shaped by lessons from Ukraine and wider regional conflicts.
JIATF 401 was formed only seven months ago, but it is moving on a compressed timetable to field counter-drone systems for Group 1, 2 and 3 unmanned aircraft. Leaders say Bumblebee V2 is not a standalone answer, but part of a wider layered defense architecture. The prototype now moves into an engineering sprint with company engineers and experienced Army UAS operators, who will collect performance data and refine the design. Further joint testing is planned with the Air Force at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, in May, followed by Navy work this summer. The effort also extends beyond the military. Federal partners involved include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, reflecting potential domestic uses under existing legal authorities.
The program’s significance lies in speed as much as technology. Officials say Bumblebee V2 could reach users in weeks or months rather than years, far faster than a conventional defense acquisition cycle. That approach reflects a broader U.S. push for attritable, affordable counter-drone systems that can be adapted across services and agencies instead of forcing a single template on every unit. With V1 already used in Ukraine and V2 advancing through testing, the program offers an early model for how the Pentagon may respond to fast-changing drone threats: iterate quickly, simplify operation and push workable systems to the field before the threat evolves again.