US startup tests drones to confront school shooters

A US technology startup has developed a controversial new system that uses drones to respond to active shooter situations in schools, offering what it describes as a “first line of defence” against mass shootings.

The company, Campus Guardian Angel, has launched pilot programmes in the states of Georgia and Florida, with growing interest from schools in Texas. The system is designed to deploy small indoor drones when a potential shooter is detected on campus, allowing rapid response before law enforcement arrives.

According to the company, teachers can activate an alert via a mobile phone, triggering the drone system. Human operators based in Austin, Texas, then take control of the drones, which navigate pre-mapped 3D layouts of school buildings.

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The drones, which weigh about one kilogram, are not armed with firearms. Instead, they are designed to physically interfere with attackers by flying into them or using non-lethal pepper gel sprays to disorient and disable them.

Company officials say the drones are also equipped with two-way communication systems, allowing operators to attempt to speak to a suspect and encourage surrender while coordinating directly with police units on the ground.

Khristof Oborski, the firm’s director of tactical operations, said the concept was inspired by the use of small drones in modern warfare, including conflicts such as Ukraine, and adapted for domestic security challenges.

In 2025, US schools recorded hundreds of firearm-related incidents, according to safety databases, highlighting the persistent issue of school shootings across the country. Critics, however, argue that technological solutions do not address underlying causes such as gun access and mental health.

Supporters of the system say it could act as a deterrent, potentially preventing casualties during critical early minutes of an attack. The company’s founder, a former Navy SEAL, said the goal is for the technology to exist in every school but never be needed in practice.

The drones are currently being tested and have not yet been used in real-life attack scenarios.