CBP Seeks Drone Dock Systems for Border Patrol
The request for information seeks market research on drone docking systems to help Border Patrol evaluate prepositioned drone capabilities along U.S. borders.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Immigration
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a request for information on drone dock systems and services, published on SAM.gov on Friday. The market research effort will help U.S. Border Patrol evaluate prepositioned drone capabilities.
Why it matters
The initiative aligns with broader Department of Homeland Security efforts to expand the use of small unmanned aircraft systems for public safety and physical security missions. Border Patrol is exploring drone-in-a-box systems that combine small unmanned aircraft with docking infrastructure for rapid deployment.
CBP requested $80 million for counter-UAS capabilities and $3 million more for its existing UAS program in the fiscal 2027 budget. Responses to the request for information are due January 4, 2027, and the outcome of the procurement remains unknown.
The players
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CBP is the federal agency responsible for border security and enforcement at U.S. ports of entry and between them, and it issued the request for information on drone dock systems.
U.S. Border Patrol
Border Patrol is the law enforcement arm of CBP tasked with patrolling the land borders between ports of entry, and it is evaluating prepositioned drone capabilities.
CACI
CACI is a publicly traded defense and intelligence technology contractor whose SkyValor counter-unmanned aircraft system was demonstrated at Yuma.
The details
The proposed capability would provide information about the location and movement of potential items of interest crossing international borders between designated ports of entry. In June, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 demonstrated CACI's SkyValor counter-unmanned aircraft system at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
Timeline
June: Joint Interagency Task Force 401 demonstrated CACI's SkyValor counter-UAS system at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
Friday: The request for information was published on SAM.gov.
January 4, 2027: Responses to the request for information are due.
Political Context
The request follows the Department of Homeland Security's broader push to expand small unmanned aircraft systems for public safety and physical security missions. It extends that policy line by applying drone docking systems to Border Patrol surveillance between designated ports of entry.
The request signals that Border Patrol may deploy drone docking systems for persistent surveillance between ports of entry, affecting how border monitoring is conducted in those areas. Vendor selection and any resulting deployments have not been finalized, so practical changes on the ground remain unknown.
The takeaway
The request shows how federal border agencies are testing rapid-deployment drone systems that could extend surveillance coverage between ports of entry. Whether these systems move from market research into operational use will depend on the vendor selections that follow the January 4, 2027 response deadline.
What happens next
Responses to the request for information are due January 4, 2027, after which the agency may invite selected vendors to product demonstrations.
Further reading
For broader background, see the Immigration section on border security policy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Executive Gov.
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