UCLA Police Expands Drone and Munitions Stockpile
The UCLA Police Department spent more than $220,000 on drones and less-lethal ammunition in 2025 and has asked to expand both.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The UCLA Police Department spent more than $220,000 on drones and less-lethal ammunition in 2025. The department now holds 3,117 less-lethal munitions and is requesting authorization to expand its drone fleet and munitions stockpile.
Why it matters
The department says the added equipment is needed as UCLA expands university-owned housing, medical, and administrative facilities. Critics, including a professor who organized a petition with hundreds of signatures, have called on police to stop using 40mm launchers.
The UCLA Police Department has purchased three Skydio X10 drones under a 10-year agreement costing $21,654 per year and bought 120 40mm munitions for $3,477 in 2025. The department's request to expand to five drones and add 1,950 PepperBall rounds and 50 40mm projectiles remains pending, and no approval decision has been reported.
The players
UCLA Police Department
The University of California, Los Angeles campus police agency responsible for the drone program and munitions purchases described in the report.
Michael Chwe
A UCLA professor who organized a petition with hundreds of signatures calling on police to stop using 40mm launchers.
The details
The department's October 19 military equipment report, reported by The Daily Bruin, lists the purchases and expansion requests. The Skydio X10 is a foldable quadcopter that can be prepared for flight in about 40 seconds, and the department launched a 'Drone as First Responder' initiative. The department says five drones would let it reach more than 95% of priority police, fire, and EMS calls.
Timeline
September 2023: Skydio X10 drone model introduced.
2025: UCPD purchased drones and less-lethal munitions.
October 19: UCPD military equipment report issued.
2028: Olympic and Paralympic Games, for which drone support is planned.
Legal Context
The Skydio X10, introduced in September 2023, is a foldable quadcopter that UCLA police have adopted under a 10-year agreement. The department's expansion of drone and less-lethal munitions use places it within ongoing debates over police surveillance and crowd-control weapons on public campuses.
Students, staff, and nearby residents may see more drone flights and less-lethal equipment used during campus incidents if the expansion is approved. The department's drones would be used to assist with protection of the Athletes Village during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The takeaway
Campus police equipment decisions, including drone fleets and munitions stockpiles, are set through annual reports that residents can review and comment on. Following the department's report and any approval process can show how these tools are being used.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Law Enforcement reporting on police equipment and tactics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Internewscast Journal.
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