On battlefields where small drones are now as common as rifles, the U.S. Army is preparing to field a purpose-built interceptor designed to ram those threats out of the sky. The service has confirmed a $5.2M contract award on Jan. 30, 2026, by JIATF-401 to Perennial Autonomy for the Bumblebee V2, with the system set to be unveiled and begin arriving in units next month. The Bumblebee V2 is built around first-person-view kinetic interception, turning a multirotor drone into a guided projectile that collides with hostile aircraft, a shift that could change how warfighters confront swarming quadcopters and other small uncrewed systems.
Background on Counter-Drone Needs
The Army’s push toward the Bumblebee V2 grows out of an operational assessment by the Global Response Force, which has been grappling with how to neutralize hostile small uncrewed aircraft systems that can appear with little warning and at very low altitude. According to an official Army account of the program, Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Task Force 401, identified in that record as JIATF-401, sought a counter-drone tool that could keep pace with agile sUAS while operating close to front-line troops. That same Army record ties the requirement directly to the Global Response Force’s need for rapid, deployable defenses that can travel with units instead of relying only on larger, fixed-site air defense systems.
JIATF-401’s stated mission is to acquire advanced kinetic counter-drone systems that enhance warfighter lethality, and the Bumblebee V2 is presented there as a key step toward that goal. The Army description emphasizes that existing methods for hostile sUAS neutralization, such as electronic jamming or traditional air defense missiles, either struggle with low, cluttered flight profiles or are too expensive and scarce to use against small quadcopters. By selecting a relatively low-cost multirotor interceptor that can be flown by soldiers in the field, JIATF-401 aims to give Global Response Force units a more flexible way to meet the surge in small drone threats without exhausting higher-end munitions.
What is the Bumblebee V2?
The Bumblebee V2 is described in Army materials as a next-generation FPV multirotor designed specifically to intercept and neutralize hostile sUAS through physical contact. The official Army announcement identifies Perennial Autonomy as the company behind the system and characterizes the platform as a purpose-built counter-drone asset rather than a modified commercial quadcopter. Reporting by C4ISRNET on the Bumblebee V2 adds that the system is part of a broader research and assessment effort focused on FPV multirotors, indicating that the design is tailored for aggressive maneuvering and rapid engagement of small, fast-moving targets.
Unlike non-kinetic options that rely on radio-frequency effects or directed energy, Bumblebee V2 is built around a collision-based concept. The Army description and supporting coverage specify that the interceptor is meant to close with a hostile drone and physically strike it, using the mass and velocity of the multirotor to bring down the target rather than carrying explosives or specialized payloads. C4ISRNET’s account of the research methods around Bumblebee V2 notes that the system is being evaluated as a pure kinetic solution, which aligns with JIATF-401’s interest in advanced kinetic counter-drone systems and helps explain why the platform is framed as a next-generation FPV interceptor rather than a general-purpose surveillance drone.
Contract and Timeline Details
The clearest public record of the deal comes from the Army’s own description of the program, which states that JIATF-401 has entered into a $5.2M agreement with Perennial Autonomy for the Bumblebee V2 counter-drone system. That Army record specifies that the contract was awarded on Jan. 30, 2026, and identifies it as part of JIATF-401’s effort to acquire an advanced kinetic counter-drone capability for front-line forces. The same account reiterates the exact figure of $5.2M and links it directly to procurement of Bumblebee V2 systems and related support.
On the timeline, the Army states that deliveries are scheduled to begin in March 2026, which lines up with descriptions in C4ISRNET and Defense News coverage that the service intends to debut the FPV Bumblebee V2 drone interceptor next month. The Army’s own language presents this March start as a planned schedule rather than a completed milestone, and there is no detailed breakdown of how many systems will arrive in which units or on what sub-dates. That leaves some uncertainty around the exact pace of fielding, but the consistent references to a March 2026 delivery window across the Army and trade-press accounts provide the strongest available indication of when soldiers will first see the system in their formations.
How It Works: Kinetic ‘Hard Kill’ Explained
Bumblebee V2 embodies what the Army and outside analysts describe as a kinetic “hard kill” approach to counter-drone defense. Instead of detonating a warhead near a target or relying on electronic disruption, the FPV multirotor is flown directly into the hostile sUAS, using its own body as the impactor. The Army’s description of the system emphasizes this physical interception concept, and Defense News uses the Bumblebee V2 program to illustrate the broader distinction between collision-based interceptors and explosive alternatives that are more common in traditional air defense.
Defense News explains that kinetic interceptors like Bumblebee V2 are being explored because they may offer a cost and logistics advantage over firing larger missiles at cheap quadcopters, while also avoiding some of the collateral effects associated with explosives. In its coverage of the Army’s operational assessment, Defense News notes that JIATF-401 is evaluating how such FPV systems perform in realistic scenarios, including how reliably they can track and collide with agile sUAS and how much pilot training is required to achieve those hits. That assessment focus underscores that Bumblebee V2 is not just a technology demonstration, but part of a deliberate effort to understand where collision-based hard-kill fits within the Army’s wider air defense mix.
Strategic Implications for US Forces
For the Army’s Global Response Force, the Bumblebee V2 offers a potential new tool for countering the kind of FPV threats that have become prominent in recent conflicts. The Army’s own account of the JIATF-401 acquisition links the system directly to enhancing warfighter lethality, suggesting that commanders see value in giving small units an organic way to shoot down hostile drones without waiting for higher-echelon air defense assets. By pairing FPV interceptors with existing sensors and early warning, Global Response Force units could have a more layered defense against small drones, from electronic measures to kinetic collisions.
C4ISRNET frames Bumblebee V2 as part of a wider trend in which militaries are turning to FPV multirotors not only for attack, but also as interceptors that can match the agility of hostile drones. In its coverage of the Army program, the outlet notes that the system is tied to an operational assessment focused on how such interceptors might help close gaps in current counter-UAS architectures. Those assessments are still under way, and C4ISRNET makes clear that evidence of real-world performance against live threats remains limited, yet the decision to commit $5.2M through JIATF-401 signals that Army leaders see enough promise to push Bumblebee V2 from concept into field evaluation with forces that are expected to deploy on short notice.
Looking Ahead: Uncertainties and Next Steps
Even with the contract awarded and a March 2026 delivery schedule, significant questions remain about how Bumblebee V2 will ultimately be integrated into Army formations. The official Army record provides only a high-level description of capabilities, and neither that account nor trade-press coverage lays out detailed performance metrics such as range, endurance, or engagement success rates. Defense News notes that assessments by JIATF-401 and the Global Response Force are still in progress, and it characterizes many expectations about how FPV interceptors will behave in combat as extrapolations from similar systems rather than proven results.
Defense News also points out that broader questions linger around training pipelines, sustainment, and how Bumblebee V2 will be networked with other sensors and shooters in the field. In its reporting on the program, the outlet highlights that much of the current discussion of FPV interceptors is based on observed performance of related platforms, meaning that expectations for Bumblebee V2’s effectiveness remain partly speculative until more extensive Army testing is completed. For now, the combination of a firm $5.2M contract, a Jan. 30, 2026 award date, and a March delivery target signals that the service is committed to finding those answers quickly, even as it acknowledges that the full capabilities and limitations of this kinetic drone killer are not yet fully disclosed or understood.
More from Morning Overview
*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
