Teal Drones Signs $1.8M Border Patrol Deal

Red Cat’s drone subsidiary Teal Drones has signed a $1.8 million contract with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to supply the agency with 106 of its Teal 2 drones. 

Last October the CBP ordered 54 drones from Teal in a deal worth a little more than $1 million. 

Border Patrol said it is using the Teal 2 drone to provide “supplemental airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and tracking capability,” as well as enhance situational awareness for U.S. field commanders and agents. 

The Teal 2 drone is specifically designed for nighttime operations and is integrated with a thermal camera to provide high-definition imaging during low-visibility missions. 

The latest contract is part of a Blanket Purchase Agreement between CBP and five drone companies, announced in December 2021, with a total estimated value of $90 million over five years.

“We are honored to provide this important U.S. agency with drones that help enable their mission,” said Jeff Thompson, Red Cat’s CEO. “The Border Patrol pilots are some of the best and their feedback has been instrumental in Teal 2 enhancements. 

“This brings our current backlog to over $7.5 million as the Teal 2 revenue continues to accelerate. Red Cat has invested in a manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah and we’re confident in our ability to meet order delivery deadlines for military, government and commercial customers.” 

Related:Teal Drones Receives $2.6M Purchase From US Defense Logistics Agency

The Teal 2 drone was officially launched in April at the Army Aviation Association of America Summit in Nashville, and since then has received a string of orders from U.S. military agencies. 

Teal has so far received two purchase orders from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), most recently a $2.6 million deal in August, under which it will deliver 172 units of its Teal 2 drone to the DLA. 

Also in August, Teal Drones received a $2.6 million order for its Teal 2 drones from the U.S. Air Force Security Forces.