JIATF-401 Awards Bumblebee V2 Kinetic Counter-Drone System
The Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has awarded a $5.2 million agreement for the Bumblebee V2 kinetic counter-drone system, aiming to give U.S. forces a low-collateral way to defeat illicit small unmanned aerial systems both overseas and in the homeland.
The task force, a Pentagon lead organization for synchronizing counter-drone efforts, awarded the deal Feb. 4 with deliveries set to begin in March. The Bumblebee V2, a first-person-view multirotor interceptor, is designed to physically engage threats by colliding with hostile drones, neutralizing them while limiting harm to nearby personnel and infrastructure.
What The Bumblebee V2 System Brings
The Bumblebee V2 is a next-generation kinetic counter-drone capability intended to add a precise, low-collateral option for commanders facing small unmanned aerial threats. Its design focuses on direct physical interception rather than electronic jamming or directed energy, helping ensure safe engagement near troops, bases, or critical assets.
Army Brigadier General Matthew Ross, director of JIATF-401, said the award puts counter-small UAS capability “into the hands of our troops immediately,” providing a reliable interceptor that can neutralize threats without endangering forces or infrastructure.
Training And Assessment Plans
Alongside the award, U.S. Army units in Europe and Africa have been preparing with Bumblebee systems in initial familiarization flights as part of training exercises. These activities support certification of instructors and build operator proficiency before wider fielding.
The Army’s Global Response Force will also assess the Bumblebee V2’s performance under rigorous conditions as part of its operational evaluation.
Broader Counter-Drone Context
The new kinetic capability from JIATF-401 builds on a broader push within the U.S. defense establishment to accelerate counter-UAS tools for military and homeland defense missions.
In January, the task force made a first purchase under its Replicator 2 initiative, buying advanced DroneHunter F700 interceptor systems designed to detect, track and capture small drones with minimal collateral effects.
The Defense Department’s focus on counter-drone efforts is part of a larger response to the growing use of small unmanned systems by state and non-state actors in conflict zones and for illicit activities. That includes updated guidance giving commanders greater authority to address unauthorized drone flights near U.S. bases.
Why This Matters
Small drones have become ubiquitous on modern battlefields and pose risks to troops, infrastructure and civilian populations. They are used for surveillance, attack missions and supply operations in contested regions. By adding low-collateral kinetic options like the Bumblebee V2 to the counter-UAS mix, the U.S. military aims to improve its ability to respond quickly and safely across diverse environments.
This award also reflects changes in how the Defense Department organizes and fields counter-drone technology, with JIATF-401 acting as a central hub to streamline procurement and deployment of urgent capabilities.
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