DHS and Canada to Test Autonomous Drones and Vehicles Over 5G Along Shared Border

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in collaboration with Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC), is preparing an experiment this fall to test autonomous drones and ground vehicles along the U.S.-Canada border. The exercise, named ACE-CASPER, aims to assess which systems can reliably stream surveillance video and sensor data across commercial 5G networks to a joint command-and-control center. While vehicle autonomy is part of the test, the primary goal is demonstrating resilient 5G communications in a simulated national emergency scenario. This marks the first U.S.-Canada cross-border technology experiment in nearly a decade, reviving efforts similar to the CAUSE program conducted from 2011 to 2017. Although framed under public safety and emergency response, the experiment emphasizes military-style capabilities, such as real-time battlefield intelligence and Command and Control: Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (C2ISR) systems. Several companies with ties to former President Trump’s family are positioned to participate, including Powerus Corporation, Anduril Industries, and Xtend. These companies provide drones and surveillance technology to federal and defense agencies. DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate, which oversees domestic counter-drone programs, announced the trials through government procurement channels. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to prioritize U.S.-made drones and strengthen border security through autonomous technologies while limiting foreign-made drones from U.S. wireless networks.