Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to expand its fleet of high-powered surveillance drones, and other parts of the Department of the Homeland Security (DHS) may buy their own Predator-style drones, according to recently published procurement records.The news shows DHS\u2019s continued investment in drone surveillance technology, and how use of large scale drones could expand to other parts of the umbrella agency.The procurement records reviewed by 404 Media say the contract is worth more than $265 million. The records specifically point to the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, adding that CBP is \u201cutilizing new Congressional funding to support procurement and sustainment\u201d for a fleet of MQ-9 drones. The exact number of drones is redacted. CBP did not say how many additional drones it plans to acquire in response to a question from 404 Media. CBP previously had a fleet of around 10 drones, according to a CBP presentation available online.\u00a0\ud83d\udca1Do you know anything else DHS’s use of drones? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at joseph.404 or send me an email at joseph@404media.co.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cUnmanned Aircraft Systems [UAS] are a critical component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection\u2019s layered border security strategy, providing advanced surveillance and detection capabilities across land and maritime environments. These systems enhance CBP Air and Marine Operations\u2019 ability to detect, track, and respond to illicit activity, as well as support disaster response and search and rescue operations,\u201d a CBP spokesperson told 404 Media in an email. \u201cCBP is expanding its existing UAS fleet with additional MQ-9B unmanned aircraft currently on order. MQ-9 fleet end strength remains under evaluation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The MQ-9B drone is made by General Atomics Aeronautical and is also known as the SkyGuardian. \u201cSkyGuardian is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for up to 40+ hours in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world\u2014day or night,\u201d General Atomics\u2019 website says.At the moment, CBP appears to be the only component of DHS with a fleet of MQ-9 drones. It regularly flies these drones to assist other agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to data obtained by 404 Media. CBP flew Predator drones over the June 2025 anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.\u00a0But other components may acquire their own fleet of the high-powered surveillance drones. The procurement documents say, \u201cOther DHS components that are looking to establish an MQ-9 program, [redacted], may procure an additional [redacted] MQ-9 UAS utilizing the CBP contract vehicle.\u201d CBP did not answer which agency that was when 404 Media asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"