Deltona High School has become the first high school in the nation to install a drone-based security system aimed at addressing active shooter incidents before law enforcement arrives. The Campus Guardian Angel system, developed by Texas-based Mithril Defense, began operation at the Deltona campus in fall of 2026. These drones are positioned throughout the school grounds and can be activated remotely to identify, distract, and potentially incapacitate an attacker while officers respond to the scene.
School staff can initiate an alert through a dedicated application or a panic button. Once an alert is triggered, trained pilots located in Austin, Texas, launch the nearest available drones. These pilots utilize the school's existing security cameras, the drones' onboard cameras, and digital maps to pinpoint the location of the threat. The drones are equipped with various tools to manage a threat, including sirens, strobe lights, and pepper gel. Should these initial deterrents prove insufficient, the drones are capable of ramming an attacker at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.
Mithril Defense aims for a rapid response, stating its goal is to launch drones within five seconds of receiving an alert, reach an attacker within 15 seconds, and incapacitate the threat within 60 seconds. CEO Justin Marston informed USA Today that while the company intends to seek permission from local law enforcement to use force, it will not delay action in an emergency situation.
The system's capabilities were observed during a demonstration in October by the Wall Street Journal, where two drones entered a room and circled a dummy representing an armed attacker, creating a distraction before an officer intervened. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office has also been actively training with the Campus Guardian Angel system. An August social media video from the agency showed school resource deputies conducting active-threat scenarios at Deltona High School alongside Campus Guardian Angel pilots. This training specifically focused on enhancing communication between deputies and the remote operators, who can provide live camera views to officers as they respond to an incident.
Looking beyond Deltona, CEO Justin Marston told the Wall Street Journal that three additional schools in Florida and five schools in Georgia are preparing to adopt the system. Schools in Colorado and Texas have also reportedly raised funds for installations. Florida authorized a pilot program for three districts in late 2025, and Georgia lawmakers allocated $550,000 in July for five schools. Marston anticipates the program will expand to seven or eight states by the end of the year. However, not all participating campuses are currently operational. Officials in both Florida and Georgia indicated to USA Today that the system is not yet active at at least five of the schools involved. A spokesperson for Broward County Public Schools stated that the district has not evaluated, endorsed, or authorized any specific drone capabilities, including the deployment of pepper spray. In Georgia, the athletics and safety director for Troup County School System mentioned in late September that 24 drones were expected at Troup County High School within three to four weeks.
Marston acknowledged that the drones have not yet been used in an actual school shooting incident. He also noted certain limitations, explaining that the drones cannot break through doors or specific types of windows, and that a gunman could potentially shoot them down. Marston clarified that the company does not plan to equip the drones with lethal weapons. Beyond schools, Campus Guardian Angel, which demonstrated its drones at University Park Elementary in Texas in April 2025, is also developing similar security systems for use in workplaces, houses of worship, and other public venues.
