Schools in Florida, Georgia and Colorado are piloting drone systems designed to locate and disrupt active shooters within seconds of an alert. The technology, developed by Austin-based Mithril Defense under the Campus Guardian Angel program, equips participating campuses with remotely operated aircraft that deploy from secure boxes inside buildings.

Teachers activate the drones through a mobile app or classroom panic buttons. Professional pilots at the company's Texas headquarters then guide the devices to the threat. The drones reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour, emit strobe lights and sirens, deploy pepper gel, and can ram an attacker or break through windows.

Florida became the first state to fund a pilot with $557,000 allocated by legislators. Deltona High School in Volusia County installed the system at the end of the prior school year, followed by Boyd H. Anderson High School in Broward County and Godby High School in Leon County. The program aims to bridge the gap before law enforcement arrives.

Georgia approved roughly $500,000 to $550,000 for five high schools, including Coffee County High, Forsyth Central High, Gainesville High, River Ridge High and Statesboro High. Systems are being installed this summer for use during the 2026-2027 school year.

In Colorado, the John Adams Academy charter school in Sterling Ranch is self-funding the first deployment in the state ahead of its opening later this month. The school serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Company executives say the drones can reach a shooter in as little as 15 seconds and engage within one minute. The systems supplement existing security measures and are positioned as a faster initial response option. Pilots have not yet been used in live incidents but have undergone testing and demonstrations.

The initiatives reflect state-level efforts to enhance school security through emerging technology amid ongoing concerns over campus safety.